Pembroke golf course proposal refused

An application for an outline development permit for a golf course at Pembroke was refused by the board of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority at a public meeting at the MEPA offices in Floriana yesterday.

The 18-hole golf course required about 150 tumoli of land. The application was submitted by John Ellul Vincenti on behalf of Carmel Golf Club Ltd.

Mr Ellul Vincenti said the developers had commissioned a report from the Professional Golf Association of the UK which had given a "very encouraging report on the site". A golf course on a similar site had been set up in Crete, he said.

Mr Ellul Vincenti said that a golf course on its own was not feasible so the developers had contacted the five-star hotels in the area and they had registered their interest in offering accommodation facilities.

The proposed golf course had raised protests from the Armed Forces of Malta which has firing ranges in the area; from Nature Trust, the Environment Protection Department, and the Estate Management Department among others.

In its recommendations for refusal, the MEPA directorate said that the area earmarked by the developers had ecological value and scientific interest where further human intervention, particularly in the form proposed, was not desirable.

The development would adversely affect and to a large extent destroy the Grade 1 listed Pembroke rifle ranges. Furthermore, the golf course would require the movement of large quantities of soil.

The MEPA board yesterday approved a full development permission for the Tignè sports phase of the development at Tignè by MIDI.

During the meeting, objections were raised by the owners of the Fortina Hotel which is situated next door to the development at Tignè.

The Fortina Hotel objected that the entrance to the trunk road forming part of the overall development would be directly in front of the hotel's main entrance and would impact negatively on the hotel.

A traffic expert on behalf of the Fortina said that the trunk road would produce tons of pollutants annually that would affect the hotel and that the shape of the road should be changed to avoid accidents.

Moreover, the tunnel forming part of the trunk road should be equipped with exits to assist rescue workers and paramedics in case of accidents.

Meanwhile, the MEPA board also approved phase 1 of the restoration of Fort Manoel on Manoel Island by MIDI, including the barracks, the casement, the polverista, couvre porte and main gate.

The MEPA board approved also a full development permit for the construction of phase 1 of the Sea Passenger Terminal project in Pinto Road, Floriana. The application was submitted by Chris Falzon on behalf of Viset (Malta) plc.

The application includes the restoration of Pinto stores, including the reconstruction of the missing façade and the relocation of the existing public road to behind Pinto stores.

The outline development permit envisages the construction of the façade of the missing vaults but not the entire reconstruction of the vaults.

The main reason behind this decision was that the row of warehouses presented a magnificent baroque forecourt that contrasted with the austerity of the bastions.

Another application outline development permission approved yesterday regarded the replenishment with sand of St George's Bay in St Julian's.

The application was filed by George Micallef, advisor to the Ministry of Tourism. The proposal included the creation of a 25-metre wide beach by sand replenishment consisting of a 20-metre wide bathing area and a five metre wide buffer/recreation zone between the bathing area and the promenade.

Another application approved yesterday related to an amendment to a development application for residential/commercial development at Vittoriosa waterfront. The full development application was submitted by Martin Attard Montalto on behalf of the Cottonera Waterfront Group.

The proposed development has been altered by the reduction of one floor on the corner between the Menqa and Toqba areas and by two floors on the south east corner of the Toqba block of flats.

Two other applications, one to eliminate a projected road and introduce a cul-de-sac in It-Timu Street corner with C. Pace Street in Iklin and the construction of a public staircase between Raghaj Street and Xemxija Hill in Xemxija were approved.