Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/602829
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2015 7 News Din l-Art Helwa against proposal to regularise Paradise Bay lido JAMES DEBONO AN application to regularise various illegal works at Paradise Bay carried out over and above a permit issued in 1999 has been met with the disapproval of en- vironmental NGO Din l-Art Helwa. The application was presented by Kenneth Micallef on behalf of DIKK Ltd. The plans were draft- ed by architect William Lewis, currently the Labour Party's or- ganising secretary. In an objection sent to the Mal- ta Planning and Environment Authority the long established ENGO objected to any sanction- ing of any illegal extension of the lido into the surrounding ar- ea, noting that the permit issued in 1999 had already considerably enlarged the lido. "What was (in the 1960s) a small lido has now grown in proportion in a way that it over- powers the bay, extending from one side to the other," it said. Din l-Art Helwa is objecting to any regularisation of a terrace adjoined to the lido which has taken an "extensive area of the bay" and should be reverted back to the original natural state. It is also objecting to a proposed 100 square metres store. The ENGO is also objecting to the placing of tables and chairs on the roof over the lido, noting that this would only increase the volume of the development. Din l-Art Helwa insists that the site should be restored in a way which creates a "gentle gradient to the bay." Currently MEPA is banned by law from regularising any devel- opment on scheduled locations such as Paradise Bay, which is a Special Area of Conservation and a Natura 2000 site. But the new MEPA law pro- poses the deletion of the Sixth Schedule, which will be replaced by the imposition of daily fines. In March 2014, the owners of the Paradise Bay restaurant were served with an enforcement or- der against the construction of an illegal canopy covering the restaurant's terrace, the con- struction of a room being used as a kitchen, the creation of con- crete paved areas used for plac- ing of sunbeds and umbrellas, the levelling of pathways and the development of cladded bound- ary walls between sand level and concrete area. The first enforcement notice against concrete paving in the same site was issued in 1993. But in 1999 MEPA issued a per- mit for additions and alterations to an existing restaurant. Plans presented by the devel- opers show that most of the res- taurant area is covered by the 1999 permit which even includes a small area which was never de- veloped, but the stairs and para- pet are completely irregular. Two applications to regularise the development were rejected in 2004. In 2008 MEPA issued enforce- ment notices against two rooms built without a permit. A year later an enforcement order was issued against the deposit of concrete to form passages, the deposit of construction mate- rial and new boundary walls without a permit on a scheduled property. Ferry service to be extended to all Three Cities TIM DIACONO TRANSPORT Minister Joe Miz- zi said that ferry services to Val- letta would be expanded to take in the Three Cities, with tenders for the project's extension to Senglea being issued in the com- ing weeks. Speaking at a consultation with 60 school children from primary schools in Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea, Mizzi explained the importance of living an environ- mentally friendly lifestyle. The schoolchildren then par- ticipated in a number of activities about road safety and cleansing. Mizzi spoke about the impor- tance of using advanced technol- ogy to travel in a more environ- mentally friendly way. "We need to start educating people on the use of electric cars and cars that run on LNG," he said, explaining to the children that the government was also providing incentives to encour- age members of the public to use these vehicles. Mizzi also explained the im- portance of road safety and of re- specting other drivers, by follow- ing regulations and not drinking and driving. He added that it was important to promote correct road behaviour at an early age so that these rules would become second nature. The minister also spoke about the importance of respecting the environment and keeping our surroundings clean and ex- plained that many initiatives had been put in place to ensure that people could discard rubbish correctly. He further encour- aged the pupils to go ahead and correct adults if they saw them disposing of rubbish where they shouldn't. Answering questions from the children, Mizzi said that more security is needed in the vicinity of schools to ensure more safety for children as they crossed the roads. He added that the govern- ment planned to introduce the idea of traffic marshals, particu- larly in the areas near schools, to increase safety and prevent accidents. Other students voiced their concerns about the disrespect for rules by some road users who parked on spaces designated for electric car charging or on bus stops. Mizzi explained that buses would soon be equipped with a camera to photograph any cars that stop on bus stops unlawfully, to then issue a fine. Students complained of the lack of punctuality of public transport, and Mizzi said that the next step after the introduc- tion of new bus routes for public transport, was to increase the frequency of buses and an IT system to provide mobile phone users with information about the location of the vehicles. Mizzi also said that the new bus routes would be introduced in the coming weeks, and that many would benefit the three cities and increase connectivity. against concrete paving in the same site was issued in 1993. But in 1999 MEPA issued a per- mit for additions and alterations to an existing restaurant. opers show that most of the res- taurant area is covered by the a small area which was never de- veloped, but the stairs and para- pet are completely irregular. Paradise Bay is a Special Area of Conservation and a Natura 2000 site INSET: Plans presented to MEPA showing lido structures as approved in 1999 (green), extent of area developed illegally (blue) and extent of latest proposal (red) Schoolchildren were told of the importance of living an environmentally friendly lifestyle