Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/712521
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 AUGUST 2016 News 3 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 More- over, although Axiak sent no comments on the Townsquare project, in May the ERA had sig- nalled that it was not satisfied with the Townsquare project on various issues. "Keeping windows shut" dur- ing the construction of the Townsquare tower to shut out the noise is "unreasonable", the ERA had said in reaction to an environmental planning state- ment (EPS) submitted in 2012 by consultants of the project. The ERA noted that the im- pact, played down somewhat in the EPS as 'short term', would be indeed significant because exca- vation will take 10 months and construction four years, in an already densely populated area that surrounds the proposed tower. This concern echoed similar doubts expressed by the Envi- ronment Protection Directorate back in 2012. The ERA had also expressed concern on the visual impact of the building of the 38-storey tower which will have a dramatic impact on views enjoyed from the Sliema promenade, apart from breaking the skyline from as far as Rinella Bay in Kalkara. While the EPS consultants, who were commissioned by the Gasan Group, warned that the project would have a major impact when seen from Tower Road and from the Preluna Ho- tel, the ERA also contended that the project would also have a major impact when seen from Manoel Island and the Valletta ferry landing. It also expressed concern on the results of a scan line geologi- cal survey, which warned of the "potential collapse of excava- tion". This impact was described as "uncertain" in the EPS. But the ERA has now said that a number of measures will miti- gate these concerns. "The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) findings on both proposals had predicted potential impacts associated with these developments. How- ever, a number of measures were also identified through the EIA process to mitigate these im- pacts. These mitigation meas- ures were proposed to be in- cluded as conditions in the PA permit," an ERA spokesperson told MaltaToday. "In light of the above, the Envi- ronment and Resources Author- ity does not envisage that it shall be appealing the PA decisions on the Mriehel and Sliema high- rise." The ERA has the power to appeal to the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal against decisions taken by the PA but since the ERA's incep- tion in April, no appeal has been lodged. Sliema councillor Michael Briguglio has however said that he will be proposing an appeal against the Townsquare devel- opment by the local council. "On Monday I will ask my fel- low Sliema local councillors to formally appeal the PA Towns- quare decision," the Green party councillor tweeted yesterday. Environmental NGOs – who have called for the approval of a national master plan for high- rise buildings before any high- rise applications are processed – can also lodge an appeal as the new law grants them an auto- matic right to appeal against the approval of major projects. The Townsquare project, com- prising 159 residential units, 4,719 square metres of offices, 8,241 square metres of com- mercial space and 748 parking spaces, is set to become Malta's tallest building. Chairman cannot be substituted The PA board narrowly ap- proved by seven votes to six the development of the Towns- quare tower which is set to in- crease traffic in Sliema by 3,500 cars a day, with the authority's chairman, Vince Cassar, and his deputy, Elisabeth Ellul, voting against, as did the Nationalist Party's representative Ryan Cal- lus. Had Axiak been present and voted against, the vote would have been tied and the chairman would have been required to use a casting vote. While confirming that Axiak was indisposed for medical reasons and could not attend Thursday's public consultation meeting, the ERA spokesperson said that "the way in which the ERA Board members featured in the Government Gazette, did not allow for an ERA representative to substitute in such instances." Additional reporting James Debono and Raphael Vassallo 'Mitigation measures mean no need for appeal' Environment and Resources Authority excludes appealing controversial high-rise projects despite its concerns on visual impact of towers