Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/592425
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 28 OctObEr 2015 7 James Debono The Naxxar Labour Party club has presented a planning applica- tion to set tables and chairs on a 70 square-metre footpath in Vic- tory Square in Naxxar. The application foresees the setting of 22 tables in the area in front of the entrance to the Labour Party club and the area near the statue of Our Lady of Victory. The plans for the applica- tion were presented by Dominic Chircop, who is represented by architect William Lewis who is currently the Labour Party's or- ganising secretary. Transport Malta has already issued a consent for the applica- tion. The Lands Department has been notified of the application through a registered letter. Technically any individual can apply for development on pub- lic land if he or she informs the Lands Department of his or her intention to do so. The Lands Department can only decide on whether to allow the development after MePA issues the permit. MePA is currently consider- ing a new policy regulating out- side catering establishment. The policy does not set any limits for the placing of chairs and tables in public gardens, public squares, and jetties, adding that any such decisions will be taken on a case- by-case basis. Current legislation states that tables and chairs can only occupy a quarter of the width of a road, square or alley but can occupy half the width of a promenade. The proposed new policy also obliges all encroachments on public spaces to leave a 1.5-metre passage – the distance required for one person to walk alongside a wheel chair and two persons to walk side by side. News no eIa for Ramla bay Hotel extension Despite concern on ecological and visual impact, project set to be exempted from EIA requirement James Debono WhiLe expressing concern on the visual and ecological impact of a major extension of the Ramla Bay hotel in Marfa, a screening report by the Malta environment and Planning Authority exempts the project from the need of an environment impact Assess- ment. The application seeks permis- sion for the demolition of the existing 45 apartments which are presently interspersed in nine, separate one- to two-storey buildings and the construction of 100 apartments built over a seven-floor extension to the hotel which has the same height. it also proposes, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, catering outlets and an under- ground car park for 68 cars. The proposal will result in an increase of 240 beds in the resort. The project does not involve the take up of any virgin ODZ land but increases the massing of the development. MePA had already approved a 102-room extension in 2009. The screening report prepared by the environment Protection Directorate notes that the project seeks to increase the overall massing of the existing hotel. Referring to the photomontages presented by architect Ray Demi- coli the report notes that the project will result in "significant effects of the proposed project on the larger cultural and natural landscape and visual setting of the area". The massing of the existing hotel in an otherwise open coun- tryside context is not to be "en- couraged from an environmental point of view." The report also notes that the impacts on the adjacent Natura 2000 site remain unclear. The site lies on the coast close to a marine Natura 2000 site. The area in- cludes Posidonia oceanica mead- ows, a habitat protected by eU legislation. The report notes that this important habitat could be impacted by the proposed devel- opment, especially during demo- lition and excavation works, as a result of dust and debris gener- ated which may find its way into the marine environment. "The site characteristics are such that while the impacts along the Northern coast are expected to be minimized by currents, any dust plumes that enter the bay will remain there for a considerable amount of time, increasing water turbidity, and possibly smother- ing the Posidonia oceanica". The report warns that compli- ance with the requirements of the environmental Management Construction Site Regulations is only "considered the bare mini- mum in seeking to prevent over- spills from the site onto the sur- rounding environment." it is also unclear whether the proposed works will result in sig- nificant impacts on cultural her- itage. This is because the works encroach onto the buffer for the Grade 2 scheduled World War ii beach defence light and beach post. The effects of visual impact on the cultural heritage should be assessed further according to the report. This report also warns that the increase in the number of residents may result in increased pressures on the environment. While reiterating concerns on the visual and ecological impact of the project the ePD concludes that such concerns are best ad- dressed directly through contin- ued ePD processing of the case, and the mainstream development consent mechanism and should mitigated by means of conditions and specifications in the devel- opment permit. in this regard, the proposal does not require the submission of an eiA. The ePD is currently led by MePA chairman Vince Cassar, who has assumed the role of act- ing director of the directorate for the past 2 years. The government has refused to appoint a new di- rector in view of the imminent creation of a separate environ- mental authority. The project will see the construction of 100 apartments built over a seven-floor extension 'ROAD studs' installed on the newly tarmaced Coast Road pose a hazard to cyclists, green party Alternattiva Demokratika has warned. "The Coast Road has for years been one the key roads for cy- clists who practice cycling as a sport, and is also a road accessed by leisure cyclists whilst act- ing as a major commuting link used by those using cycling as a means of transportation," AD sports spokesperson Claire Azz- opardi Lane said in a statement. "however the recent road studs placed inside the cycle lane are a safety hazard for cyclists." She said that the road studs - installed to improve the visibil- ity of the Coast Road by night - have automatically narrowed the cycle lane, meaning that, when there is debris on the lane, cy- clists have to ride over the 'road studs' to avoid the debris. Moreover, she argued that the road studs make it far more dan- gerous for a cyclist to overtake another rider or a parked car. She critcisied Transport Mal- ta for its lack of consultation with cycling clubs and cycling NGOs. "if Transport Malta really wished to protect cyclists, then a strip of road studs placed on the outside of the lane would have emphasised the fact that a driver has already broken the law before reaching the white line indicating the cycle lane," she said. 'Rumble strips added layer of protection for cyclists' – Transport Malta in response, Transport Malta said that the "rumble strips" ac- tually add an extra layer of pro- tection to cyclists. "Cycling groups had asked for segregation between cars and cycle lanes," Transport Malta said in a statement. "The rumble strips deter those who straddle over the edge line and drive in the cycle lane. The width of the cycle lane is adequate for leisure cycle commuting. The Coast Road is a main arterial road. The cycle lane is not meant for beginners or for competitive cy- cling. Transport Malta followed various international estab- lished guidelines when design- ing and implementing the rum- ble strips." Your first click of the daY www.maltatoday.com.mt Naxxar Labour club wants outdoor dining area The Naxxar Labour club could now set up 22 tables on the footpath in the town's square AD warns of danger posed to cyclists by Coast Road 'road studs' PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Ray attaRd