1 comment.Protection of foreshore must continue in new structure plan – DLH
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Din l-Art Helwa in a statement today commended the unanimous decision by the MEPA board yesterday, that refused applications from two Sliema hotels to develop stretches of rocky foreshore into beach concessions and lidos.
Referring to the applications by the Preluna and Bayview Hotels the environment NGO said that it welcomed MEPA’s adherence to the current Structure Plan policies which protect the coast and secure public access, saying it hopes that these legal restrictions will continue to exist in the forthcoming Structure plan which is due to relax many policies in favour of development.
The NGO stated it also hoped this decision would serve as a deterrent to those who are making plans to take up public areas of coast for private use and indeed to those who are already doing so illegally.
“Further cementification of those rare pockets of coastline that still exist needs to be prevented at all costs. Malta’s shores are fast becoming one private ring road of concrete, affording little or no public enjoyment of free spaces, no visual relief from clutter, and scarce protection of the Mediterranean biodiversity that we hold.”
DLH said that “it looks to MEPA and to the Ministry of Environment to continue to uphold such environmental considerations when handling future applications that imply loss of natural spaces and habitats.”
On Thursday, the MEPA Board turned down two planning applications which sought planning permission for the construction or extension of lidos along the Sliema foreshore.
The Board agreed with the Planning Directorate’s recommendation and cited that the rocky coast needs to be protected for its ecological value and public access around the immediate coastline needs to remain safeguarded.
MEPA said that in the first application, planning permission was being sought for the extension of existing Preluna Beach Club onto the adjacent rocky coast right under the Fortizza landmark.
“The proposed project included the replacing of the existing concrete platform of the lido and its extension by an additional 180m² across existing natural rock to create an area to be used for the placing and hiring of sunbeds and umbrellas,” MEPA said.
The second planning application was for the construction of a new lido on the Qui-si-sana rocky foreshore between both the existing Plevna Hotel Beach Club and The Lido.
It was very nice of Din l-Art Helwa to commend the unanimous decision by the MEPA board, especially after leaving all the hard work to FAA and other NGO’s. So commending is great but slogging it out with MEPA is better!