Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/795987
8 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 8 MARCH 2017 News IN ALL LEADING BOOK SHOPS HISTORY OF ORNITHOLOGY IN MALTA Labour MP denied permit for apartment block JAMES DEBONO THE Environment and Planning Commission chaired by Elizabeth Ellul has rejected an application presented by Labour MP Clifton Grima to demolish an old town- house in St Julians to construct an apartment block. Last month the commission had requested the applicant to present new plans to preserve the façade of a 19th century townhouse. But the architect insisted for a vote on the application presented, which was turned down by two votes against one. The only member to vote in favour was Simon Saliba, himself a former Labour candidate in 2013 and a former party representative in the San Gwann local council. The townhouse, located in Birkirkara Hill – the old street link- ing Birkirkara and St Julians – is one of two semi detached villas which were among the first to be built in the area. The property still retains a unique entrance porch with three arches and a three-metre high garden rub- ble wall, separating the property's garden from the street. In December, MaltaToday re- vealed that the case officer had rec- ommended the approval of the ap- plication presented by Grima in July 2015, two years before he became an MP, replacing Leo Brincat. Sub- sequently the case officer was told to prepare reasons for refusal if the façade is not retained. The reason given for turning down the development was that ac- cording to the 2015 design guide- lines the external design of all new developments should seek to pro- vide visual interest enriching the quality of the context within which they are located. The existing fa- cade was deemed to provide such visual interest. Originally the case officer had argued that the existing building, which is not located within the Urban Conservation Area, is of no particular architectural impor- tance and therefore can be demol- ished. When contacted last month and asked whether he intends to retain the façade as ordered by the com- mission, Grima replied that the matter is being dealt with by the ar- chitect and he was not aware of the details of the project. He also pointed out that during the processing of the application nobody from the PA had pointed out the need to preserve the façade. The 19th century house would have made way for seven duplex apartments set over four floors. Heritage watchdog Din l-Art Hel- wa had described the application as "low quality development", not- ing that the absence of such a basic amenity as a lift showed that the "developer is solely after squeezing in the maximum number of sub- standard apartments". Labour MP Clifton Grima (INSET) was denied permission to demolish an old townhouse in St Julians Kiosk proposed next to Ta' Qali animal hospital JAMES DEBONO A timber kiosk and an outside seating area is being proposed on landscaped grounds in front of the San Frangisk Animal hospital in Ta' Qali. The application has been pre- sented by the company which op- erates the hospital, which stands in the vicinity of the farmers' mar- ket and the picnic area at Ta' Qali. The application also foresees the planting of a number of olive trees. The 24-hour centre, which was built with €420,000 of public funds, was opened in October 2010. It closed its doors when the contract with the original service provider expired and in Septem- ber 2015 the Secretariat for Ani- mal Welfare had announced APH Ltd was taking over following a public call. When asked whether the tender foresaw the development of a ki- osk a spokesperson for parliamen- tary secretary Roderick Galdes told MaltaToday that the tender had been issued by the Lands De- partment. APH Ltd did not reply to questions sent by MaltaToday. In the application APH Ltd de- clared that it is not the sole owner of the site but it had notified the owner of its intention to apply and that the owner had granted con- sent to the proposal. The kiosk would be erected in the grounds of the San Frangisk Animal hospital in Ta' Qali Malta to ratify UNESCO intangible culture convention TIM DIACONO MALTA will become the 173rd country to sign a UNESCO Con- vention that aims at safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. The convention, which was debated in Parliament yesterday, will allow aspects of Maltese culture, such as the language and village feasts, to benefit from UNESCO recognition as part of the global cultural herit- age. As soon as Malta signs the con- vention, the government will have to draw up an inventory of its intan- gible natural heritage and imple- ment schemes that safeguard this heritage through a bottom-up ap- proach. Malta will also have to pay a small membership fee and submit regular reports to UNESCO on the implementation of this convention. Culture minister Owen Bonnici hailed the ratification as one that will allow Malta to "join a club of countries who have the right to propose aspects of their culture for global recognition". "I am not Maltese because I was physically born on the island or because I have a Maltese passport, but because I speak the Maltese language and engage in certain tra- ditions." He warned that certain aspects of Maltese culture, such as dialects, are at risk of vanishing. "My home village of Zejtun is actually split by a street into two villages, and those from the top vil- lage have a different dialect to those from the bottom one. I am sad to see certain dialects vanishing." Shadow culture minister Karl Gouder warned that there is a sig- nificant portion of the Maltese people who do not appreciate local culture. "It is important for Malta to ratify this convention, as it will place us on a higher platform and perhaps encourage more people to engage in local culture," he said.