Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/643092
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2016 News 11 MR JOHN RIPPARD SR Honorary President Royal Malta Yacht Club, Dear Mr Rippard, I am shure you will read the Malta today On sunday. I do hope you realize how much good you could do to Your much loved club, by wisely , stepping down from the honorary "consultant" Role you presently hold. A mature intelligent noble humble act on your behalf would allow the younger generations to take over with bright new modern views to continue building with the many others past examples of what has been achieved in the years you have contributed to the RMYC. I wish you well and hopefully you can sit back with satisfaction and see how the club could continue on a possible route to become the most recognised and respected club in Europe and the Med, under new fresh blood. I do believe, it would be the dream of many, who like you, contributed so much to the cruising and racing sailing world in The wonderful country you have the priviledge to live in, and I have been blessed to retire in. In The glorious Modern Malta , their is no room for arrogance cronyism, disrespect, manipulation, secrecy and dictatorship, all ,colonial traits that still are imbedded within the fabric of the present RMYC governance. Profound change is needed in order to stay clear from the dangerous waters the club is sailing. Should the present governance prevail in the coming elections, this traditional old boat club will most likely flounder. I am now finding a new confortable place to enjoy and make new friends, to truly benefit from all the magnificent things and activities the new marvelous Malta has to offer , well away from the present heavy polluted decadent atmosphere of the RMYC. You see, I lost nothing, my principles and values are intact, I do not bow to anybody , never have, never will. With the possible exception of maybe the Queen! Most respectfully, Over and out! Carlos Noriega Notice for Royal Malta yacht club members Open Letter Cc. Executive Committe Rmyc. Godwin Zammit, Comodore Mark Napier, Vice Com. Ana Rossi, Secretary. Peter Dimench Treasurer. John Rippard Jr. David Anastasi, Jamie Zamut. Jorge Zammit. countryside ruins can be trans- formed into villas – thanks to the controversial Rural Policy in Design Guidelines approved in 2014. All that an owner has to do is prove that the structures had served as a dwell- ing in the past. Moreover, according to the policy, any building constructed before 1978 is considered as legal. There- fore any ruin of such buildings may now be reconstructed. Prior to 2014 buildings could only be converted if these were in a "sound structural condition" and could be converted "without sub- stantial rebuilding." But this was not enough to prevent the substantial rebuilding of countryside ruins, such as the building developed by former PN president Victor Scerri through a series of piecemeal applications pre- sented by Musumeci. Curiously, the demolition and complete redevelopment of 'ruins' was specifically excluded in the first draft policy regulating rural and ODZ developments issued for public consultation in October 2013. The policy originally defined as a ruin any dilapidated structure "which had lost the majority of its supporting walls or roofs". But this important clause was excluded in the final policy approved by the govern- ment a year later. It was this policy that was invoked in September 2015 to issue a permit for the demolition of three roofless structures to be converted into a villa with a swimming pool, on the Rabat outskirts of Landrijiet – also ODZ. The villa will be built over a footprint of 165 square metres. The pile of rubble of a building which collapsed before 1978 and which is set to pave way for ODZ dwelling approved against Superintendence the harbour and would "create a high blank wall to the east of the property which would encourage further vertical development in this sensitive area". The case officer called for the re- fusal of the development because it would adversely affect the skyline of the urban conservation area. But after a site inspection, the Environment Planning Commis- sion described the proposed devel- opment as an 'infill' between high blank party walls, and as "a good rehabilitation of an existing (two- storey) dilapidated building, which follows the Spatial Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED)." Moreover the developers gave an assurance that the railing and ex- ternal spiral staircase would be in stone colour. The new hotel will consist of a ground-floor which will include the reception area and three additional floors, including nine guest rooms and a spa. The earmarked property dates back to the early 17th century. In the late 19th century the hotel building served as the headquar- ters of Malta's first trade union, the Società Operaia. The Senglea Historical Society has objected to the development because the hotel would not only darken the neighbouring inter- nal yards but also dwarf the 16th century cupola of the church of St Julian. to extend square metres existing poli- cies. The pre- sent campsite was approved in 2001 and extended in 2010. A land- scaping plan for the existing campsite was approved in 2013. Vincent Vella, the owner of the nearby campsite on private land, presented the application which was filed by architect Robert Sarsero, who also serves on MEPA's Tribunal for Envi- ronment and Planning Review. That tribunal decides on appeals against decisions taken by ME- PA boards. After the MEPA reform of 2010, members of MEPA's ap- peals board were hired on a full- time basis to avoid perceived conflicts of interest. But after the 2013 election members of this board started being ap- pointed on a part-time basis. Sarsero himself has filed appli- cations for an old people's home on ODZ land in Santa Lucija and for another old people's home in the area of the Mtarfa Isola- tion hospital, which is also partly ODZ. THIS IS A PAID ADVERT