Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/810144
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 12 APRIL 2017 5 News construct seven office blocks in Mriehel A rendition of one of the seven office blocks which will be built instead of of a high-rise in Mriehel The Flying Carpet Importers of hand-knotted Oriental carpets THE FLYING CARPET - OLD RAILWAY TRACK, ATTARD Mon - Tues, Thurs - Sat 10am – 12pm • Wednesday morning closed Mon - Fri – 4.30pm - 7pm Importers of: Various hand knotted carpets and Kilims, Non Slip Underlay, Dry and Liquid shampoo. Mobile No. 7953 7664 ERA says no to kiosk outside Ta' Qali animal clinic JAMES DEBONO THE Environment and Resources Authority is objecting to an appli- cation for the construction of a ki- osk on the grounds of the animal clinic in Ta'Qali which will result in the loss of over 200m2 of un- developed land, "through the con- struction of a kiosk and hard land- scaping, including grass blocks". ERA insists that the proposal is not acceptable from an environ- mental point of view. "It will con- tribute to the overdevelopment of the site with adverse, cumulative environmental impacts including further encroachment and scat- tering of new structures and other interventions which could have easily been located within appro- priate areas". Moreover according to ERA the construction of such facilities would undermine the rural char- acteristics of the area through the introduction of recreational/com- mercial activities such as this one. ERA also warned that the ap- proval of this application may also create a precedent for further in- terventions within this particular area which cumulatively would result in further uptake of ODZ land for unjustified uses and con- sequential impacts on landscape. The Malta Tourism Authority also pointed out that such a de- velopment only be allowed if it is deemed to benefit the community. "The kiosk should only be al- lowed if the authority in charge of animal welfare agrees with the proposal." The timber kiosk and an outside seating area is being proposed on landscaped grounds in front of the San Frangisk Animal hospital in Attard. The application has been pre- sented by the company, which op- erates the hospital, which stands in the vicinity of the farmer's mar- ket and the picnic area of 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. The centre closed its doors when the contract with the origi- nal service provider expired and in September 2015 the Secretar- iat for Animal Welfare had an- nounced APH Ltd was taking over following a public call. When asked whether the tender fore- saw the development of a kiosk a spokesperson for parliamentary secretary Roderick Galdes told MaltaToday that the tender had been issued by the Lands Depart- ment. 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.