Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar is strongly objecting to what the eNGO describes as the “takeover of part of the Ta’ Xbiex seafront, a public open area, not a development zone, which Transport Malta is proposing in an application to build up as offices and storage, w.c. and shower amenities and a restaurant with outdoor catering area.”

“This will be reducing the public’s enjoyment of its open area, blocking views of Valletta and setting a precedent for other restaurants and offices to be set up on the seashore,” FAA said in a statement on Saturday.

FAA argued that, “this site is part of the Area of High Landscape Value (AHLV) surrounding the Valletta UNESCO World Heritage Site, and, along with the Excelsior extension, and extensive construction planned for Manoel Island, this will continue to erode Valletta’s Outstanding Universal Value, on which designations of heritage sites are based, risking Valletta losing its designation, as happened in the recent case of Liverpool in the UK.”

The application – PA 680/22 – is for the “reconfiguration of parking area, promenade extents and embellishment, and construction of capitanerie comprising Class 4A office space and storage, berth holder, w.c. and shower amenities, Class 4B outlet, and ancillary Class 4D outlet with ancillary outdoor catering area.”

This would be built on open space/road between Gzira Gardens and the yacht marina quay.
“The development site is part of the green lung of historic Gzira Gardens. It violates the need for open spaces, never more evident than in the post-pandemic period, depriving the public of around 585sq m, or half a tumolo of public land for the building and a large outdoor catering that cannot be justified in any way,” FAA said.

FAA stated that “Transport Malta should be looking after the public’s transport needs, and not applying for the construction of restaurants for the benefit of the few.”

The eNGO also pointed out that “there is absolutely no need for more restaurants in the area, as dozens of restaurants line the road from Gzira to Sliema, with two in the garden itself. If offices are needed, rental space is available across the street, or a floating office like that of the adjacent marina can be used. If this permit is granted, it will lead to other offices and restaurants blocking the Ta’ Xbiex shoreline.”

The Local Plan designated this as a Public Open Space, not a developable area, FAA said. This project will reduce the much-used promenade linking Sliema to Gzira, Ta’ Xbiex and Msida to a narrow 2m pathway, while two-way traffic will be funnelled into a 3m bottleneck.

FAA went on to say that The design eliminates about 70 car spaces, thereby exacerbating an already desperate parking situation on Ta’Xbiex Seafront where there is an acute shortage of parking spaces for residents, berth holders to two marinas, office staff and clients in both Ta’ Xbiex and Gzira.

It added that the “neglected Gzira Gardens should be the main focus of such an application, yet there is no indication of the promised upgrade in terms of layout, planted areas or trees to be affected.”

FAA highlighted that the proposed development also goes against SPED and various other policies.

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar concluded by urging Ta’ Xbiex and Gzira Local Councils as well as the general public to call for this application to be refused, “as open public spaces are scarce in the area and should not be built up and taken over for commercial purposes. Green areas are to be protected and enhanced for our quality of life, not built upon.”

Photo: FAA

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