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MT 5 March 2017

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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 MARCH 2017 News 9 JAMES DEBONO THE Environment and Resourc- es Authority is objecting to the extension of a basement under a villa developed on agricultural land, a permit for which had been issued on the pretext that a neighbouring garage once served as a livestock farm. The application was presented by Roderick Farrugia, son-in-law of former Labour MP Bertu Pace, today a consultant to the parlia- mentary secretary responsible for rural affairs. Farrugia has now applied to ex- tend its basement and washroom. The current application seeks to further consolidate the exist- ing dwelling by extending the basement and making several mi- nor changes to the villa's layout. Originally an 80 sq.m basement consisting of a domestic store was approved. Now the basement ar- ea is being extended to 145 sq.m to cover the whole area under the building. The case officer report for the original application states that the basement is "slightly ele- vated" over ground levels but was being adequately "screened". Both the original and the latest applications have been present- ed by architect and Labour MP Charles Buhagiar. The Environment and Resourc- es Authority is objecting to the extension, reminding the Plan- ning Authority that the original application was approved against the advice of the PA's environ- mental experts because of the loss of agricultural land and "in view of foreseeable future pres- sures for development". The ERA called on the Planning Authority to ensure "that no fur- ther interventions are approved within this site". The original permit was granted by the Environment and Planning Commission in September 2015 after the applicant presented an official letter from the Agricul- ture Department confirming that the farm was in operation prior to 2000. The Rural Policy and Design Guidance (2014) and the previ- ous Agriculture, Farm Diversi- fication and Stables Policy allow a change of use from a derelict farm to a residential dwelling, once it is proved that the farm had been derelict for more than 10 years. The permit was issued on the strength of a letter under the Agriculture Department's letter- head. Signed by a labourer who de- scribed himself as a "vet support assistant", the letter certified that the area had been used as a farm prior to 2000. On this basis, the developer was able to apply for a permit under the new rural policy. But the letter was later with- drawn after it was established that a labourer could not sign the letter. Finally in April 2016 the board voted against revoking the per- mit. The applicant had submitted eight affidavits by people testify- ing that the building had been used as a farm before 2000. As approved, the villa includes a driveway and paved areas sur- rounding the proposed dwelling. ERA objects to controversial Siggiewi villa extension Former Labour MP's son-in-law wants to extend basement to villa on agricultural land, whose permit was granted on pretext that an adjacent garage used to serve as a livestock farm New Qawra hotel sundeck must have public access signs THE Qawra Palace Hotel has been granted permission for a 216 sq.m sun deck on the coast beneath its lido. The sun deck was approved along with an extension of the existing piz- zeria and gelateria on the Qawra promenade, in a permit issued by the Planning Authority's Environment Planning Commission. But the PA has also ordered the hotel to put up signage indicating that the site is a public area. The decking will be placed on that part of the foreshore which is already "compromised by the pouring of concrete" in the past. To ensure that no restriction is im- posed on access to the coast, a €50,000 bank guarantee was imposed. The guarantee shall be released to the ap- plicant after five years, provided that no reports are received by the Planning Authority of attempts to restrict access to the public. PA sources said this condition ef- fectively does not preclude the owners from setting up sun-beds in this area, but technically these will have to be available for the general public and not just to hotel residents. The permit was issued despite a clause in the local plan approved in 2006, which excludes "the granting of development permission for any fur- ther beach concessions or encroach- ments on the coast and foreshore". The PA also approved the demoli- tion of an existing pizza kiosk and the construction of a pizzeria having a 384 sq.m pizzeria and a 41 sq.m gelateria with an outdoor seating area of 123 sq.m. The existing pizza and ice cream ki- osks are located on the roof of an un- derlying store which is used as part of the Qawra Palace lido. The store was originally approved on condition that its roof serves as a public promenade. Subsequently, the two original kiosks were developed illegally but were only regularised in 2005 by the PA's Appeals Tribunal following two refusals by the Planning Authority board in 2002. The new development will result in a shortfall of 43 parking spaces, a devel- opment which will be compensated for by a €50,081 contribution, amounting to the sum due to the PA's Commuted Parking Payment Scheme for the local- ity within which the site is located. The permit for the house was issued on the strength of a letter under the Agriculture Department's letterhead, signed by a labourer who described himself as a "vet support assistant", saying the area had been used as a farm prior to 2000

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