Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/622858
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 6 JANUARY 2016 News JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage has shot down the proposed development of a su- permarket on the grounds of the Carmelite convent's garden in the intersection between Tower and Scicluna roads in St Julian's. The development would re- quire extensive clearing and rock cutting in the immediate vicinity of the Carmelite con- vent, which is listed as a Grade 2 building. According to the Superintend- ence the depth of rock cutting in the immediate vicinity of the convent poses an "unacceptable threat to the structural integ- rity" of the building. Moreover, according to the Superintendence, the façade as proposed is not in harmony with the façade of the convent and would have a negative impact on the street scape. Last year, a court upheld an injunction filed by Archbishop Charles Scicluna to stop the Carmelite Order from giving up priory grounds in Balluta for commercial devel- opment. The Carmelite Order entered into a 50-year lease agreement with developer John Cilia in 2011 for the development of the gardens into a supermarket. Back then, the Order's prior was Fr Anthony Cilia, the developer's brother. The land had originally been granted on emphytheusis to the Curia in 1890, on condition that it is not transferred or used for other purposes. When the Bish- op came to know of this con- tract, he immediately applied for an injunction. The Archbishop and the cur- rent leadership of the Carmelite Order want the agreement to be rescinded as it goes against the original conditions imposed by the family that donated the land to the Church in 1890. In August 2015, the Archbish- op's Curia asked the courts to is- sue the injunction to prevent the Carmelites and the developer from building the proposed su- permarket, car park and offices in the convent grounds. Cilia is suing the Order and demanding it honours the lease agreement that allows commer- cial development on the priory's garden. The developer wants to build a supermarket, car park and offices. The proposal is being opposed by residents who are concerned about the resulting traffic im- pact of the development, whose car park entrance would be lo- cated in one of the busiest roads in Sliema, right next to a corner in the street, with traffic lights in constant use by pedestrians, and a bus stop. A petition opposing this de- velopment has already collected 400 signatures. Supermarket a threat to the integrity of Carmelite convent Superintendence for Cultural Heritage dismisses proposed development of supermarket on the grounds of St Julian's convent garden The Carmelite Convent in St Julian's