Residents stage protest against development

St Paul's Bay council is to ask lawyers to assess whether the conditions of the development permit issued to the Malta Young Sailors Club are being infringed, mayor Paul Bugeja said yesterday.

The club was granted a full development permit to build a clubroom at Tax-Xama' and create storage for sailing dinghies under a paved belvedere.

Mr Bugeja was speaking to a group of residents who staged a protest against the permit and the use of the tiny sandy beach close to the existing sailing clubhouse by members.

Those who frequent the beach have been complaining that their daily swim has been disrupted by club members encroaching on the beach. The club, they say, allows its members to take the boats out on the slipway, barring access to the beach and leaving boat trolleys on the sand.

Residents came out in full force yesterday denouncing the arrogant manner they say has been adopted by club members in their dealings with bathers.

Mr Bugeja said the council had written to MEPA on June 6 strongly objecting to "any structure constructed above sea level around the foreshore of our locality".

"We also object to any additional extensions to existing structures, otherwise the foreshore in our locality will vanish.

"The promenade of the whole locality should be left completely clear of all possible moveable and immovable objects that could spoil the public's enjoyment of the splendid view."

A spokesman for the residents, Kenneth Vassallo, said they were protesting against the building of structures that would obstruct the view of the bay.

"Boats are using the sandy beach indiscriminately, posing a danger to children and other swimmers. We will be doing everything possible to put a stop to this development," Mr Vassallo said.

Alternattiva Demokratika spokesman Mark Causon, who joined the protesters, said that St Paul's Bay residents had long opposed "the unbridled encroachment of bathing sites".

He said this was the latest case where the authorities had not only totally failed to take the interests of the public into consideration "but also ignored infringements in the conditions of the development application as approved".

MEPA has twice ordered the sailing club to stop excavation works because a rising sewage main is situated close to the proposed site. It has called on the sailing club not to continue any work until it gets the green light from the drainage department.

Reacting to the protest, Andrew Calascione, a member of the sailing club committee, said MEPA had approved the construction of a clubhouse overlooking the sandy beach, where they plan to build rooms for coaching lessons to be held, as well as a basement under the paved belvedere.

The club has also been given permission by MEPA to build a look-out tower at the paved belvedere, Mr Calascione said.

Mr Calascione said the club has held several meetings with the drainage department and the contractor had taken precautions to keep one metre away from the path of the sewage main.

"On Wednesday, we wrote to the drainage department to give us in writing the go-ahead to continue with the excavation works. The club house extension will in no way encroach on the beach.

"We will also be telling members not to use the sandy beach in any way during the summer months. The club currently has 60 members and a waiting list of about 20.

"We have waited till now to start the works because we did not want to disturb children attending the nearby primary school either during lessons or examinations.

"We would like to finish the excavation works before school starts again for the same reason," Mr Calascione said.