Paceville comes to Qui-si-Sana

Mepa's DCC board has recently given permission for a class 6 premises to operate in Qui-si-Sana. Class 6 premises include bars, restaurants and cafeterias. 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 case officer had recommended refusal, stating, quite rightly, that Qui-si-Sana is a residential area, protected under policy NHH01 of the North Harbour Local Plan.

There obviously being no "overriding reasons", Mepa's DCC board decided to invoke policy NHPV14, which applies specifically to Paceville as "an established tourism and entertainment area".

The DCC board completely ignored the fact that Qui-si-Sana is a residential area and that this decision would have an irreversible negative impact on the area. In essence, Mepa has now stripped Tignè and Qui-si-Sana (and, possibly, all of Sliema) of its protection against establishments of this type and has paved the way for a new Paceville. Under this precedent, any premises may now be converted to a bar or restaurant.

It seems that once the plan to convert the Qui-si-Sana garden into commercial activity was stalled, another way has been found to degrade the area and introduce commercial activity. We have once again been betrayed by those appointed to protect us.

The Tignè and Qui-Si-Sana Residents' Association deplores this decision and appeals to all Sliema MPs and to the local council to apply pressure to reverse this unwise and dangerous precedent.