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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2016 8 News JAMES DEBONO FGURA is in dire need of more public urban spaces and commu- nity facilities, not more supermar- kets, Labour mayor Byron Camill- eri told MaltaToday when asked for his reaction to a planning ap- plication over 12,000 square me- tres of land added to development zones in the 2006 extension of building boundaries. The Fgura mayor is claiming that the Lidl supermarket proposed on a former scrapyard could be in breach of the local plan. The local plan stipulates that any development of the site should in- clude recreational facilities in the form of public urban open spaces, social and community fa- cilities as well as resi- dential and commer- cial/retail development. "Lidl's application is only about utilizing a huge chunk of the area for retail use, and parking for supermarket customers. There is no mention of public urban spaces, social and community facilities or residen- tial development. Actually, if the proposal is accepted, there will be no reasonable space left for any public urban spaces or social and community facilities, as provided by the local plan," Camilleri told Mal- taToday. He also pointed out that Fgura is already suffering from huge traffic congestion and air pollution problems. "Such a supermarket, targeting Fgura and Cottonera customers, shall increase our traffic conges- tion with more vehicles, includ- ing heavy vehicles, making use of Fgura's main and side roads". The land had been previously identified for residential develop- ment in a planning application presented by Disma and Lawrence Attard in 2003 but the application was later withdrawn. Lidl is now registered as the sole owner of the extensive brownfield site. The local plan approved in 2006 states that MEPA will encourage the removal of the licensed scrap- yard in Triq id-Dejma by allowing "retail and residential develop- ment" in the area. According to the local plan de- velopment of this site should in- clude recreational facilities in the form of public urban open spaces, social and community facilities as well as "residential and commer- cial/retail development". Devel- opment proposals will include the provision of a road linking Triq id-Dejma. The develop- ment proposed by Lidl includes a small child play area and a car park. Lidl has already opened two ODZ stores, in Luqa and Safi, both approved before the 2008 general elections. Other Lidl stores are in Sta Venera, San Gwann, Zejtun, and Qormi, and in Xewkija, a small part of which is also outside the development zones. Lidl had also applied to build ODZ stores in Mosta and Zab- bar but both applications have been rejected. The chain has two pending applications for new supermarkets, one on ODZ land by the Birkirkara bypass and another at the Fort Blocks industrial complex in Mosta. Secure Investment Secure Investment Issue of Issue of €120,000,000 120,000,000 in in Fixed Rate Malta Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Government Stocks (subject to the over (subject to the over-allotment option allotment option up up to a maximum of to a maximum of €80,000,000 80,000,000) MALTA GOVERNMENT MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS STOCKS _______ _______ (i) (i) 1.5% 1.5% Malta Government Stock Malta Government Stock (Fourth Issue) (Fourth Issue) maturing aturing in in 2022, 2022, and and _______ (ii) (ii) 2. 2.5% Malta % Malta Government Stock Government Stock (First Issue) (First Issue) maturing in 2036 maturing in 2036, , or or (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be aggregate shall be €120,000,000 120,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 22 22 nd nd February, February, 2016 2016 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates The Treasury announces the issue of €120,000,000 Malta Government Stocks subject to an over-allotment option up to a maximum of €80,000,000 as follows: MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE TO THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF SALE OF STOCK STOCK SECURITY SECURITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock.) Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall - Floriana, Floriana, Malta Malta The The Price Price for for each each Stock Stock at at (i) and and (ii) (ii) above, above, offered offered for for subscription subscription by by members members of of the the public public shall shall be be established established on on Thursday Thursday 18 18 th th February February 2016 2016, based based indicatively indicatively on on the the prevailing prevailing secondary secondary market market prices, prices, and and shall shall be be announced announced through through a Press Press Release Release issued issued by by the the Department Department of of Information Information (DOI) (DOI). Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 22 22 nd nd February, February, 2016 2016 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates as as hereunder, hereunder, or or earlier earlier at at the the discretion discretion of of the the Accountant Accountant General General: •at at 5.00 00 p.m. on on Wednesday Wednesday 24 24 th th February, February, 2016 2016 for for applications applications by by any any single single and/or and/or joint joint applicants applicants which which in in the the aggregate aggregate do do not not exceed exceed €100 100,000 000 per per person, person, and and •at at 12 12.00 00 (noon) (noon) on on Monday Monday 29 29 th th February, February, 2016 2016 for for applications applications in in the the form form of of sealed sealed bids bids (auction) (auction). Application Application forms forms may may be be obtained obtained from, from, and and lodged lodged at, at, all all Members Members of of the the Malta Malta Stock Stock Exchange Exchange and and other other authorized authorized Investment Investment Service Service Providers Providers on on the the indicated indicated dates dates. Application Application forms forms may may also also be be downloaded downloaded from from the the Treasury's Treasury's website website at at www www.treasury treasury.gov gov.mt mt with with effect effect from from Friday Friday 19 19 th th February February, 2016 2016. Bids Bids on on the the prescribed prescribed forms forms are are to to be be transmitted transmittedby byfax fax on on2596 25967210 7210or orby by e-mail mail at at the the e-mail mail addresses addresses indicated indicated on on the the application application forms forms or or deposited deposited in in the the Tender Tender Box Box at at the the Treasury's Treasury's premises premises in in Floriana Floriana. Mayor: Fgura needs gardens not Lidls Sannat still to discuss Ta' Cenc THE Labour-led Sannat Coun- cil will be taking a position on the proposed development of 15 vil- las overlooking Mgarr ix-Xini and a major extension to the Ta' Cenc hotel after a public meeting to be organised by the Malta Environ- ment and Planning Authority at the council on 22 February. "We would prefer to listen to what is being proposed during the meet- ing organised by MEPA in which the details of the development will be announced, " Sannat mayor Philip Vella told MaltaToday. Ta' Cenc will be on the council's agenda at a meeting before the public hearing but Vella said he preferred to take a stance after con- sulting with residents. "We have to see what the residents think before taking a position. Our role is to be a voice of the citizens and therefore we have to see what they think." The latest plans propose 15 new villas built over 90,000 square me- tres, overlooking the picturesque and protected Mgarr ix-Xini, and a hotel extension in the vicinity of the existing hotel, which are be- ing proposed in the latest revision to the Ta' Cenc project. The latest proposal represents a reduction from the 36 villas proposed in 2007, which were deemed unacceptable by the MEPA. The villas were ruled out by the previous government, which inter- preted the local plan as meaning that no villas can be constructed at Mgarr ix-Xini. The extension to Hotel Ta' Cenc will be designed to provide luxury suites and a presidential suite for up-market clients. The exten- sion will consist of 118 new guest rooms, including 21 trullo suites and 37 regular suites and a new pool and spa. Byron Camilleri