Mepa approves expansion of Polidano plants

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority yesterday approved three separate applications for two neighbouring sites at Polidano Bros Ltd in Triq Hal Farrug, Luqa.

The applications were submitted in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and essentially sought to increase the plant area by 14,500 square metres. The original permits covered an area of about 30,000 square metres.

The applicant sought to extend the steel fabrication plant, build new workshops and service areas for mechanics and maintenance staff. He also sought to centralise the operations of a polystyrene plant currently located in Luqa, and a petrol station, currently located in Mosta, as well as construct a galvanising plant for treatment of in-house construction, materials as well as third party products.

The applicant also wanted to construct a public heavy-vehicle car wash and fuelling station, to erect an office block and to replace the open air aggregate and sand bins with covered and enclosed storage and batching systems to contain dust emissions. The company also sought to extend the gas plant and to introduce buffer zones and landscaping belts around the plant and widen the existing public roadway in front of the proposed extensions to improve traffic flow.

In the third application, Polidano Bros sought to extend the pre-stressed concrete products plant, construct a hollow concrete block factory and stores and rehabilitate an existing farmhouse to be used as a reception area.

The case officer's reports showed that the environmental impact statements had predicted a number of potential impacts on the environment and mitigation measures were proposed to minimise the predicted impacts during the construction and the operational stages.

The recommendation was to grant the permit, and the three permits were issued yesterday under a number of conditions.

Mepa also approved an outline development permit for an extension of 30 units at the Mellieha Holiday Centre, which Nature Trust had opposed on the grounds that the site is located outside the limits of development for Mellieha and in the close vicinity of the Ghadira Nature reserve, designated a Special Area of Conservation.