NEWS | Wednesday, 18 March 2009

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James Debono
Sliema mayor Marina Arrigo said the council has sent its objection to the development of 23 apartment blocks on a vast open space behind Villa Bonici.
The area, currently occupied by fields, stretches from Parisio street, which borders Gzira, to the Savoy area, and is at present enclosed by a wall and contains a large number of trees.
“We will go into more details on the subject in our next council meeting,” Arrigo told MaltaToday.
The proposed development includes apartment blocks staggered from two to 12 storeys, surrounded by landscaped gardens and trees.
Sliema’s AD councillor Michael Briguglio expressed his concern that the development will take place in an already congested area and in the absence of a development brief, which would set holistic parameters for such development in the area. “Sliema residents hoped this place would be used as an open space which can enhance community life,” he said.
In fact the local plan for Sliema calls on MEPA to refuse any piecemeal development on the site before issuing a development brief for public consultation that sets guidelines for any development.
The local plan states that any development brief should consider the development of a limited part of the site for residential accommodation for the elderly, a limited amount of off-street residents’ parking spaces for the Savoy area, and a landscaped and publicly accessible garden.
It also calls for improved public access between the Strand and the Savoy area so that that public transport routes and shopping facilities are made more accessible.
Briguglio said a social impact assessment should be included in the forthcoming environment impact assessment that is “based on comprehensive surveys and sociological analysis and proper public consultation.”
A construction management plan should also assess the impacts of the project during the construction phase, including damages to streets, street furniture as well as inconvenience to residents due to changes in traffic arrangements which will necessarily have to be made due to the narrow streets in the area, Briguglio said.
Residents are concerned about heavy vehicles involved in the construction of the new development that would pass from narrow streets like St Agatha street or from Sacro Cuor street.

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