Danger! Lidl warns shoppers of low-flying aeroplanes
James Debono
People parking their cars at the Lidl supermarket’s car park in Luqa are being warned that their health and safety is “highly at risk in the event of an accident involving low flying planes” which regularly pass over the supermarket because of the nearby airport.
The warning cites Lidl’s obligation, as per a 2004 legal notice, to warn shoppers that the site of the supermarket is “in the direct path of low flying aircraft” and therefore exposed to health and safety risks, “particularly in the event of an aircraft accident”.
The Luqa supermarket’s permit was approved by MEPA despite advice to the contrary by both Malta International Airport and the Civil Aviation Department, who insisted that the Luqa supermarket lies on the “Public Safety Zone” of Runway 24.
Indeed, Lidl’s car park lies on the “Red Zone” – which is considered as an exclusion zone where no building development should be permitted for the safe conduct of aircraft operations.
Now, a sign warning shoppers of the potential danger of low-flying aircraft has been erected at Lidl, although MEPA is denying any involvement in this latest development.
Although the words “Malta Environment and Planning Authority” are written on the sign, a MEPA spokesperson said the authority is investigating whoever displayed this public notice and authorised the wording. The spokesperson said the notice does not fall under the competence or remit of MEPA.
Repeated attempts to contact Lidl offices proved futile.
The application for Lidl to develop its supermarket just outside the airport was strongly objected by Malta International Airport itself, because it was within 250m of Runway 24 and its height was just 2.5 metres higher than the runway approach protection surface.
In view of the negative recommendations of the Civil Aviation Department and the MIA, the Planning Directorate acknowledged that it had recommended a number of refusals in similar safety zones, but other permits were issued with a condition stating that “the Planning Authority shall not be responsible in any way for damages that may occur to the property or to the persons residing therein.”
MEPA’s internal auditor, Joe Falzon, is currently investigating the approval of this supermarket.
Falzon started his investigation after the original owner of the land complained that his past requests to develop the same land had been turned down on three occasions by MEPA.
“Subsequently he sold his land to the present developer (Charles Polidano) who had no difficulty to obtain the development permit requested,”
Falzon noted in his annual report.
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