Qui-si-Sana development

I refer to Simon Camilleri's letter titled The Rape of Qui-si-Sana (November 15) in which the author refers to previous correspondence on the matter by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Mr Camilleri sees conflict between what Mepa and the minister are saying with regard to public consultation. Careful reading of both Mepa's response letter and the minister's reply to the parliamentary question would show the two to be in agreement as the public consultation referred to by the minister is that for the development brief while that referred to by Mepa is for the residential parking zone. The former is long over while the latter has not yet been held.

As was explained in the previous Mepa communication, the brief requires that a public consultation exercise, held by the developer with the local council, is carried out once the RPZ is drafted. The local council is to be involved since the management of this scheme is to be carried out between the developer and the council. After the public consultation for the RPZ, the details of the consultation and any amendments to the scheme are to be submitted to Mepa as a full development application. Since the RPZ is still being studied, no application has been submitted for the RPZ. This is not a unique process. The RPZ application will be similar to the application previously submitted for the upgrading of the Paceville roads and will include proposals for parking bays, signage and road markings.

I refer now to the concerns raised regarding the possibility that such a car park with CPPS funding be changed into a commercial outlet. If the car park is funded by CPPS money, then the use is to be only for that stated. The analogy with a private car park does not tally as here a private developer would be making use of public funds. Moreover, the concerns that the garden will be removed are unfounded as the brief clearly stipulates the reinstatement of the garden with the possibility of a kiosk.

It is indeed regrettable if the feeling of unease persists among the residents. However, the facts are, to the point of writing this letter, as stated above.