Architect Edward Scerri, on behalf of Ghajnsielem council, on Wednesday presented a report to Ghajnsielem mayor Frans Cauchi. The report consists of proposals related to Ghajnsielem to be adopted within the Gozo and Comino Local Plan.
It includes detailed considerations on the solid waste transfer station and sewage treatment plant proposals. Up to Thursday, 400 Ghajnsielem residents signed a petition against the solid waste transfer station. Ghajnsielem council will be holding a meeting tomorrow to discuss the station.
The council has also submitted proposals on the Ta' Passi recreational area, the pedestrian route at Ta' Passi and Wied L-Imgarr up to Mgarr foreshore, to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).
Ta' Passi rural recreational area
In the draft Gozo and Comino Local Plan document map 14.2-A, the site at Ta' Passi situated to the east of Ghajnsielem football pitch has been earmarked for afforestation purposes in accordance with policy GZ-RLCN-6. The report disagrees with the land use of the open space east of Our Lady of Loreto Square. It maintains that the open space ought to be left unobstructed.
The report states: "This square is one of the few village squares in Gozo which has unobstructed views to one side. The afforestation of the land at Ta' Passi would result in the obstruction of these views. It would also obstruct the view of the village of Ghajnsielem from Mgarr Street."
The report points out that the land at Ta' Passi should instead be developed into a beautiful rural recreation area.
"The land covered by the recreation area should be larger than the land earmarked for afforestation in the local plan draft map 14.2-A. This recreation area should be developed according to the guidelines established for the rural recreation area currently being developed between the football pitch and Imgarr Street in Qala according to PA6434/98.
"A recreation area at Ta' Passi would have several benefits. These include the locality of the site, situated in close proximity to Ghajnsielem centre and the unobstructed views of Chambray, Nadur, Qala and the Gozo channel."
Pedestrian route at Ta' Passi and Wied L-Imgarr up to Mgarr foreshore
The report submitted to MEPA states that the Gozo and Comino Draft Local Plan proposes the identification and establishment of a residential route within the undeveloped land located south of Tad-Dehra Square, where Mgarr valley starts to form.
"Policy GZ-Ghjn-3 of the local plan policy document states that 'applications by public entities to develop a pedestrian route as shown on map 14.2-B will be favourably considered, provided that all the following conditions are adhered to:
¤ the nature of the development is limited in scale,
¤ small inconspicuous interpretation panels are included at strategic points along the route. The panels should highlight natural, historic, cultural or scenic features in the area,
¤ seating and other resting facilities are restricted to areas within the development zone boundary'."
The report highlights modifications to be made to the proposal of a pedestrian route. Its states that the route should be extended further to include Mgarr Valley.
"The option of extending the route along the entire valley up to Migiarro Garden and to the foreshore of Mgarr up to Martino Garzes Street should be well studied. This would make Mgarr Valley accessible to the public through a walking route along one of the most beautiful valleys in Gozo, which was accessible up to some years ago but is now overgrown with dead trees and weeds.
"The installation of seating and other resting facilities such as picnic tables should not be limited to the areas within the development zone since this would limit the installation of such furniture to the very start of the route. The installation of furniture made exclusively of timber should be permissible at strategic points along the entire route, as long as these points are limited and the furniture installed within them is also limited.
"An application by Gharb council to install timber furniture near San Dimitri chapel is currently being considered favourably by the Planning Directorate (PA922/01). The area near San Dimitri is well outside the development zone and within a rural conservation area. However, the directorate is considering the fact that the proposal is of a small scale and is sympathetic with the surroundings."