A dangerous precedent

On October 23, Mepa's DCC board gave permission for a class 6 premises to operate in Qui-si-Sana. The premises were formerly a souvenir shop, rated class 4, and suitable for residential areas.

A class 6 shop includes bars and restaurants. This class is specifically excluded from residential areas (RAs) in the North Harbour Local Plan policy NHH01: "Land uses falling outside those mentioned above (class 6) will not be considered favourably within the designated RAs, unless there are overriding reasons to locate such uses within these areas". The only exception to this rule is Paceville.

Permission was given on condition no canopy was erected. To quote from the board's report: "DCC 11803307 held on October 23, 2007. Board does not object to proposed use in view of small size which renders use as low impact".

The DCC board is overlooking the fact that the size of this outlet is not the only issue, as effectively this means that class 6 premises, that is, bars and restaurants, may now operate in residential areas. This marks the beginning of the end of Qui-si-Sana and indeed of all Sliema as a residential area as most new blocks have class 4 shops in their ground floors which may now be converted to class 6 bars and restaurants on the strength of this precedent.

This permit now begs the question: Has the DCC the right to decide contrary to the local plan policies and sound common sense? Could DCC board B kindly inform us what are the over-riding planning reasons for this permit to be issued as per Local Plan policy as we see none?

Tignè and Qui-si-Sana are under great pressure from speculators who wish to cash in on the mega projects. Mepa is once more giving the impression that it has yet again bowed to outside pressure and is implementing its policy of gradually turning Tignè and Qui-si-Sana into another Paceville. We hope we are mistaken and that this permit be withdrawn.