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12 MASSIMO COSTA THE proposed extension of the Bulebel industrial estate risks im- pacting beekeeping activities and honey production in the area, a beekeeper from Zejtun has said. Beekeeper Andre Seychell said that although his land fell just out- side the area proposed for develop- ment, he is worried that the exten- sion would lead to the destruction of a number of centuries-old carob trees which are found within the area intended for the extension. "The carob tree is one of the shrubs bees are most attracted to. What's more, it is also one of the most resilient trees, and is able to survive through successive dry years," he said, highlighting that in periods of drought, the carob was one of the few trees which bees could still go to for honey produc- tion. "Carobs grow over hundreds of years. If they are destroyed, the bee population will be severely af- fected," he said as he showed us the honey bee boxes he had on his land, placed beneath a carob tree, just behind several rows of straw- berries. The expansion of the industrial estate is being opposed by envi- ronmental NGO Wirt iz-Zejtun due to the loss of several farmers' land it would bring. "If carob trees are mostly eradi- cated from this area because of the extension, bees will have to look for others areas, further away, to do their work," Seychell empha- sised. "Bees are like cars and their mile- age – the further they go, they do more miles and decrease their life- time," he said. Revealing the great care he took in his bee-keeping, Seychell displayed a frame from one of his hives, covered in bees and honey, as we looked through our protective suits. The extension pro- posal put all that at risk, Seychell said, explaining that carob trees are amongst the few trees which are not sprayed with pesti- cide, and which produce pollen and nectar that is completely natural. "I hope the authorities under- stand that if this development goes ahead, all the funds spent to safe- guard bees and their environment would not be effective," he stressed. Most of the farmers' land in the area had been inherited from one generation to the next, Seychell maintained, but they are now con- sidered squatters, because the gov- ernment stopped renewing their lease. mcosta@mediatoday.com.mt maltatoday SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2018 News Honey production in danger due to proposed Bulebel industrial estate expansion Left: The beekeeper's farm, also home to rows of strawberries, with several honey bee boxes beneath a carob tree Bottom, left: "A small portion of the agricultural land which will be lost if the extension goes ahead" Below: Zejtun beekeeper Andre Seychell is concerned that the loss of carob trees due to suggested development would severely impact bees in the area JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority has stopped the revision of a policy that was allowing the owners of horse stables, to turn them into rural houses. The proposed reform started two years ago to close the loop- holes that were allowing abu- sive applications for horse sta- bles, and since then the PA has continued to issue permits ac- cording to the 2014 rules. A PA spokesperson said the process was halted because feedback during the public con- sultation stage showed that the reform would have had "seri- ous negative impact" on animal welfare and on "the design of the stables". There were 49 applications for stables and horse-riding es- tablishments that got permits by the PA in 2016 and 2017. But the number shot up since 2013, from 10 to a record 52 in 2017. And while just 26 applica- tions were presented between 2013 and 2015, a total of 98 were presented in 2016 and 2017. The proposed revision was an- nounced in February 2016, after the new rural policy guidelines of 2014 made it easier to build sta- bles in the countryside. In a bid to tighten the rules, the PA proposed that each individual stable be separated by a two- metre gap, so it prevents them from being abusively turned into dwellings. The rules also allow the con- version of existing buildings "with architectural, histori- cal or vernacular significance in rural areas" into stables or horse-riding facilities. Base- ments beneath stables were also proposed for elimination. Stables can be constructed in most locations outside de- velopment zones, including buffer zones to Areas of Eco- logical Importance and Areas of High Landscape Value. Any new stable must be located at a distance of not less than 100 metres from the development zone's boundary. The rules do not allow new stables to exceed a height of 3.5 metres above ground level and a total floor space of 25 square me- tres per stable, including ancillary facilities and storage space. To eliminate abuse, the first draft rural guidelines had pro- posed that new stables should be built entirely in timber. This was changed in the approved policy, which permits the development of stables in stone-clad and natu- ral timber up to five courses high. The rest of the height has to be developed in timber. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt PA aborts changes to abuse-prone stables policy A reform on a policy on horse stables that was prone to abuse by developers has been stopped, because of 'animal welfare' "I hope the authorities understand that if this development goes ahead, all the funds spent to safeguard bees and their environment would not be effective" Andrew Seychell showing one of the honey-covered frames from his honey bee boxes – all of which could be in danger if the development takes place PHOTOS JAMES BIANCHI