Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/624751
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 10 JANUARY 2016 6 News JAMES DEBONO A swimming pool has been approved alongside an Mgarr store in the archaeologically sensitive area at Ta' Hagrat, against the advice of the Su- perintendence for Cultural Heritage. The 75 square-metre pool and deck, and 30 square-metre store on Triq il-Konkors Teatrali, were approved earlier this week on Wednesday by MEPA's Environment and Planning Com- mission (EPC). The Superintendence warned MEPA in Oc- tober 2015 that the proposed pool was in the "immediate vicinity" of documented archaeo- logical remains consisting of tombs, cart ruts, a rubble wall including megalithic boulders, and possible traces of ancient quarrying activities. It warned that the development would im- pinge negatively on the "cultural landscape" and serve as a precedent resulting in an "urban sprawl" through the development of more pools and decks in the area, "detaching the archaeo- logical features from their setting" and possibly "jeopardise their preservation." The Superintendence recommended that the area be "kept free from development." But although the development was fully ap- proved, the permit includes a clause stating that before works start the applicant is required to submit a copy of approval from the Superin- tendence for Cultural Heritage. This effectively means that MEPA has thrown back the ball in the court of the Superintendence after blatantly disregarding its advice by issuing the permit. MEPA's internal Heritage Protection Unit has also warned the EPC that any approval of this permit would be in breach of the law. The En- vironment Protection Directorate also warned about the adverse impact on natural features on the site. The case officer also recommended the re- fusal of this permit arguing that the rural de- velopment policy approved in 2014 does not consider archeologically sensitive areas as "ap- propriate locations" for swimming pools. According to the policy, sites of archaeologi- cal importance "are in principle considered inappropriate locations", unless it can be duly demonstrated through the necessary assess- ment, that the development does not compro- mise the site scheduling characteristics. The EPC justified its decision by insisting that the proposal does not compromise the Class A Site of Archaeological Importance since it is only 1.2m deep at the maximum level of excavation and excavation is limited in area. The board also noted that the site lies adjacent to an "approved rationalisation site" (formerly ODZ land included in the extension of development boundaries carried out in 2006), which is covered by the same archaeo- logical constraints. The EPC also referred to three other permits issued opposite to the proposed swimming pool to which the Super- intendence had not objected to in the past. In 2007 MEPA had issued an enforcement order against the dumping of construction waste in the area where the swimming pool We empower you to grow www.FamalcoCareers.com JAMES DEBONO CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Overall, 2015 has seen a massive drop of 13% over last year's figures in the number of Maths candidates. But despite the drop in the number of candidates sitting for the Maths exam the failure rate still increased from 18% to 20% while the number of absentees decreased slightly from 6% to 5%. The number of candidates who got a 6 or 7 mark, which is not considered adequate for entry to a Sixth Form college, remained the same as last year. A spokesperson for the Ministry for Education confirmed that these figures were being analysed but that the ministry will only comment when this exercise is finalised. Drop could reflect more choice in education Experts contacted by the newspa- per were cautious in interpreting the statistical drop in Maths exam candidates but hinted that this could reflect the greater opportuni- ties for students to follow alterna- tive educational routes instead of university. Such avenues that do not require an SEC qualification in mathemat- ics, include the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary school in Naxxar, the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), the In- stitute for Tourism Studies (ITS) and now the new school in Gzira which caters exclusively for stu- dents without SEC qualifications. "This non-academic post-16 branch is expanding and gaining prestige and credibility by the day. I see the expansion of this sector as one of the more important de- velopments in local education," Dr Michael Buhagiar, who lectures prospective Maths teachers in the Faculty of Education, told Malta- Today. Another reason which accord- ing to Buhagiar is voiced by many teachers in state schools, is related Number of candidates sitting for Maths exam down by 13%, and for English and Maltese by 8% Maths crisis: Kids 'refuse to play game in which odds are stacked against them' MEPA approves pool in zone of archaelolgical importance against advice of Superintendence of Cultural Heritage Ta' Hagrat swimming pool raises cultural superintendence's hackles