Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/846769
16 JAMES DEBONO A brand new fireworks factory is being proposed in the Ta' Lar- marc area on San Dimitri street in Gharb, in the vicinity of the his- toric San Dimitri chapel, where the Planning Authority had already re- fused a permit for an agricultural store in 2009, due to the site's sce- nic value. Over the past decade the Plan- ning Authority has already ap- proved two fireworks factories in Gharb, and a fourth factory is be- ing proposed in the Geriska area of the village. The latest new fireworks factory approved by the PA, one of the two approved over the last 10 years, is in Wied ir-Raghab in Gharb – the application was originally rejected in 2012. The Environment and Resources Authority is objecting to the latest application, noting that "the vil- lage of Gharb is already burdened with multiple fireworks factories". The people of Gharb had also vot- ed against the construction of new fireworks factories in a referen- dum organized by the local council in 2010. The proposed factory at Ta' Lar- marc has already been given the clearance of the PA's ad hoc com- mittee responsible for addressing the safety aspects of such applica- tions. The proposal consists of 19 structures of different sizes inter- spersed in a 5,000 sq.m area. But the Environment and Re- sources Authority is opposing the development because the area where it would be built has been proposed for scheduling as an Area of High Landscape Value and Area of Ecological Importance and is presently free from development. The factory would be located on dry agricultural land, and there- fore in line with the policy ap- proved in 2014 which only bans the construction of new fireworks factories on irrigated land. But in a memo sent to the PA, the Agricultural Advisory Commit- tee which advises the authority on developments set on agricultural land insisted that it remains "in principle" against the construction of fireworks factories on dry or ir- rigated agricultural land. But if the application is approved the AAC is calling for "a planning gain" to be used for the rehabilita- tion of agricultural land on other sites. If approved the new fireworks factory would be the second one to be constructed in the vicinity of the San Dimitri chapel. A permit for the reconstruction of a fireworks factory at Ta' Gar- rija, 300m away from the historic chapel, was issued in 2013 fol- lowing an explosion in 2010. The original permit, approved in 2007, was criticized by former PA om- budsman Joe Falzon for the failure to assess the impact of a possible explosion on the chapel. ERA shoots down factory in Kercem Apart from the two pending ap- plications in Gharb, the PA is also considering another one in Wied il-Mans in Kercem. The ERA is also objecting to this application, relating to a location near a watercourse scheduled as an Area of Ecological Value, in an area which is already designated as one of High Landscape value. The Kercem local council is ob- jecting because of the security con- cerns raised by farmers. But developer Sammy Spiteri insists his proposal is in line with the newly approved policy on fire- works. "There is nothing in the law saying that you cannot build a factory in the vicinity of farmers tilling the land," Spiteri told Malta- Today in 2015. Spiteri – a former deputy mayor of the locality which is unattached to any established fireworks or- ganisation – claims he spent the past four years trying to find an ideal place for a fireworks factory. He referred to another fireworks factory in the same area of Kercem, approved around 20 years ago as justification for his project. "I have heeded the advice of experts in the field and all I expect is that my pro- posal is assessed according to plan- ning policies, which do not forbid factories in agricultural areas as long as safety and planning regu- lations are respected," Spiteri said. While fireworks factories are likely to be incompatible with oth- er landuses in the urban area, the ERA insists that such development should be directed to less sensitive locations. maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 JULY 2017 News Gharb could get four fireworks factories A massive seven-storey develop- ment consisting of 59 apartments, seven penthouses, three maison- ettes and 89 garages set on three basement levels is being proposed instead of a former telephone ex- change building set in the corner between Parisio Street and Triq Moroni in Sliema. The building will abut on Ro- dolfu lane. The Sliema Old Telephone Ex- change was sold by Malta Proper- ties Company, a spin-off from GO plc, subject to an ongoing lease agreement for €5 million to Ton- cam Properties, which is owned by developer Anton Camilleri and Caman Properties – which forms part of the A. Camilleri Group of Companies. The existing building is de- scribed by the superintendence for cultural heritage as "a twenti- eth century building of prominent architectural value". According to the superintend- ence the existing building should be protected and incorporated in any proposed development. In their submissions to the Plan- ning Authority, a number of resi- dents have complained that the development will increase the area's population by at least 200 new residents. Residents have also called on the PA to consider the cumulative as- pect of other projects envisaged in the area. These include a four-storey block instead of a derelict build- ing between upper and lower Parisio Street and another corner development between Viani and Parisio streets. In its submissions to the PA the Sliema council has called for a Traffic Impact Assessment, noting that the area is not eas- ily accessible from the main road network as it is "nestled in the middle of minor residential roads". A new McDonalds drive- in restaurant is being pro- posed on a massive 7,002 square metre piece of land – the size of a foot- ball pitch – outside the development zones fac- ing a roundabout in the vicinity of the airport's Skyparks complex. A McDonalds drive-in already exists a short dis- tance away at the Malta International Airport's car park. Asked whether the ap- plication foresees a relo- cation of the existing res- taurant, a spokesperson for the company was non-committal, insisting that the development as proposed is only a proposal and the company "will await the out- come of the application process and proceed accordingly". The spokesperson also con- firmed that the present area is leased and any plans for the exist- ing site are the prerogative of its landowner. The land earmarked for the de- velopment, described as vacant in the application, is covered with soil and includes two oleander trees and two prickly pear trees and is fully owned by Premier Limited. The application foresees the construction of a Class 4D Mc- Donald's restaurant offering a drive-in service, an outdoor parking area, and a large land- scaped area buffering the site. "The proposal focuses on a green building that is innovative in de- sign, environment-friendly and sustainable," the spokesperson said. But the master plan presented to the Planning Authority envi- sions a 1,156 sq.m parking area, which includes 50 parking spaces, a 473 sq.m restaurant area and extensive hard surfacing for cars making use of the drive-in. A sub- stantial part of the land will be landscaped. Sliema telephone exchange site earmarked for seven-storey block McDonalds wants ODZ land near airport for relocation An application has been filed for a new fireworks factory in the vicinity of San Dimitri chapel (in background) Wied il-Mans in Kercem, site for another proposed fireworks factory McDonalds is aiming to relocate to this site for its drive-in restaurant