Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/867386
2 JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority has ap- proved two billboards on sites where no such development is presently allowed according to regulations approved in 2006 which are still in place. But both billboards fall in des- ignated areas foreseen in new billboard regulations which will permit 14 billboards – seven in each direction – in the Xemxija bypass where only five are pres- ently allowed. The regulations also foresee 15 billboards along Triq is-Salini in an area where only five are pres- ently allowed. The new regula- tions still forbid billboards facing traffic travelling from Qawra in the direction of Pembroke on the side of the road facing the sea. The regulations designating sites for billboards were issued for public consultation in March but still have to be approved. But although the PA has yet to approve these new regulations, the board has already approved two applications in Triq is-Sa- lini and on the Xemxija bypass where billboards are not allowed by present regulations but which will probably be allowed by new regulations. Both applications were recom- mended for refusal by the case officer but the board changed its decision because Transport Malta had no objection to their erection. Presently billboards can only be approved on sites designated in regulations approved in 2006 but this did not stop the prolifer- ation of illegal billboards which resulted in a wave of enforce- ment orders issued last year. The billboard at the Xemxija bypass was approved just 60 metres away from a designated site where permits for billboards have already been issued. The billboard was approved in Dawret San Pawl il-Bahar (Xemxija Bypass), within the limits of San Pawl il-Bahar. The billboard is oriented facing traf- fic going towards Xemxija. The PA has also approved a billboard along the coast road. The Naxxar local council had objected to the billboard as it is not located in an area designated for this purpose. The billboard will face traffic going towards Qawra. An illegal billboard had already been set up on this location and was removed after the PA had issued an enforcement order in April 2016. But the proposed Billboards & Advertisements Regulations is- sued for public consultation last March foresee the possibility of 15 billboards along Triq is-Salini in Bahar ic-Caghaq. Regulations approved in 2006 foresaw only five billboards in this area. From aerial photos tak- en in the past it appears that bill- boards have already been placed at the same site in the past. maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 30 AUGUST 2017 News Floodgates opened for Xemxija and Coast Road billboards Two men, woman accused of assaulting police in Marsa MATTHEW AGIUS INSPECTOR Elliott Magro ar- raigned Michael Wubshet Bekele, 29, Afewerki Teklesem- bet Yohannes, 34 from Ethio- pia and Eritrea respectively, to- gether with Helen Taddese, 25 from Eritrea, before Magistrate Joseph Mifsud yesterday, explaining how an RIU patrol in Marsa yesterday had spotted a small van with three persons in the front seats. "One was sitting on the lap of the other in the passenger seat," he said. Police flagged down the vehi- cle telling the driver to pull over but it failed to stop. A Police car blocked its path further up the road. Afewerki, the driver, emerged and pushed the police officer, before punching him in the face. The other two emerged from the van and started shouting at and pushing the officers. The driver was breathalysed and found to be over the drink- driving limit, Magro said. Taddese, who lives in Rome and carries an Italian passport, was arraigned first. She was ac- cused of insulting and threaten- ing two police officers, failing to comply with legitimate police orders, threatening public serv- ants and breaching the peace. "Thanks to Schengen, the po- lice have no way of knowing how long she has been in Malta," In- spector Magro commented. Taddese initially pleaded guilty, with lawyer Francine Abela explaining that she had come to Malta for a two-week holiday. "I am going to extend her holi- day to three months. I don't joke around where assaults on police are concerned," the magistrate said. The woman then changed her plea to one of not guilty and re- quested bail. The prosecution objected to this, arguing that she had told police only that she was staying "somewhere in Marsa". "She has no ties to Malta and doesn't know the names of the people she was in the van with, or where she lives." "Am I going to give bail to someone who attacked police as soon as she arrived in Malta?" remarked the magistrate. Despite Abela's protestations that the woman was still pre- sumed innocent, the court re- manded the woman in custody. The two men also pleaded not guilty to violently resist- ing arrest, threatening officers, slightly injuring them and other offences against public order. Afewerki alone was charged with driving the van whilst over the drink-driving limit, without insurance, or a road li- cence. Bekele was charged with breaching bail conditions im- posed for a previous offence in April. The court refused bail to all three. "You know my policy," said the magistrate. "I protect the police and the forces of order. If the courts aren't going to protect them, the country will be in a difficult situation. When you don't have the police protecting you, the people will take the law into their own hands. Public or- der is sacred." Lawyer Jason Grima, appear- ing for Bekele, retorted that his client was objecting to the charges and was saying that the situation was, in fact, the re- verse. "He was the passenger and is claiming that he was being beat- en by the police. I enjoy hearing the court protect the police but people must be protected too." Bekele opened his shirt to show a bandaged shoulder and wrist. Inspector Magro added that the man had also bitten a police officer and that that injury had been medically certified. The court appointed a medical ex- pert to examine the accused's wounds. Magistrate Mifsud clarified that the use of reasonable force is permitted during arrests. "You aren't boy scouts," he told the officer. News reports had caused the public to get alarmed, the mag- istrate claimed. "Then some people start spouting patriotic nonsense and tension is cre- ated," he said, adding that police play a vital role in maintaining social order. It was still too early to assess who was aggressive towards whom, insisted Grima. The accused had always at- tended sittings in his other case and scrupulously followed his bail conditions. There was no fear of absconding or approach- ing witnesses or him not turn- ing up for court, submitted the lawyer. The court denied bail, saying it was not deciding on guilt at this stage.