Naxxar fair would breach Mepa policy
What is happening in Naxxar at this very moment is something of great concern. The outcome could easily determine the manner in which Mepa intends to carry out its duties with regard to all its local plans.
In July 2006, Mepa issued its Approved Central Malta Local Plan. The local plan was approved by the Mepa board on July 11, 2006 and endorsed by the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment on August 3, 2006. It very clearly states: "NA02 - Malta Trade Fair Site. In the event that the existing Malta Trade Fair activity ceases operating on this site, either through closure or relocation of this land use elsewhere, Mepa will not permit the continued use of this site as a Trade Fair but will allow the entire site to be redeveloped for the following land uses: 1. High quality residential development; 2. [...]
"Furthermore, the comprehensive plan for the area designated by this policy is also to follow the planning policy guidelines as set out in Appendix C. This report contains the planning and design criteria for the future redevelopment of the Malta Trade Fair Grounds, the confines of which are indicated in the Naxxar Area Policy Map. 5.2 The overall massing of the project shall not create over-sized monolithic or high building blocks, but shall consist of small built volumes with inter-connected well landscaped terraces and passageways that will, in time, soften the mass of the blocks."
For all intents and purposes, back in 2007 the trade fair activity ceased to operate on this site. Moreover the new company, which was formed specifically to cater for the fairs, was forced to operate from Ta' Qali as from October 2007. This was done to follow the above-mentioned policy plans.
The people who ran the company at Ta' Qali at the time are the same people who formed a new company and are trying to bring back the trade fairs to Naxxar. Moreover, following the court application filed against TFEA Ltd, where it is being stated that the grounds do not have the necessary permits and trading licences, we are of the opinion that Mepa should be in a better position to confirm such allegations and if proved true, stop such activities immediately.
In addition to the Naxxar Local Plan, one will also find the North West Local Plan - Approved Ta' Qali Action Plan by Mepa Board on June 20, 2006; endorsed by the minister on August 2, 2006. This states: "13.23. A temporary structure on a site [...], given that the lease of land at Naxxar for the use of trade fairs is to expire shortly. 13.27. Over recent years the increased activities related to the Malta International Trade Fair have rendered the Naxxar Fair Grounds unsuitable for the purpose".
Now we have Paul Abela and his company TFEA Ltd who, as we write this letter, are setting up the old trade fair grounds for an event which is supposedly to be held later on this month and with many more planned fairs to follow. Mr Abela was quoted by this same newspaper as saying "the only person who will stop me from achieving my goal is God".
Apart from the legal issues we would also like to remind all Naxxar residents and also those in the surrounding areas that within one year of trade fairs organised between September 2006 and July 2007, the total numbers of visitors reached 372,000 while the number of days utilised by fairs was 67. This excludes any parties, discos and other specialised fairs. It is very easy to deduce the number of cars driving through Naxxar; the fumes; the noise; the traffic; the time spent in traffic to get home for us residents, etc...
The Naxxar local council has unanimously objected to the possibility of the return of the fairs to Naxxar. We now expect Mepa to come out and stand by what is documented on its side.
This letter is brought to you by the administrators of the Facebook Group "We do not want the Trade Fair back at Naxxar."
34 Comments
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Mattea Grech
Feb 12th 2010, 15:40
D Dalli....I drove by the 'large LUNG open space in Naxxar'...pity that all there is available to the public is an abandoned car park. FULLSTOP. The Trade Fair Grounds happen to be private property. Not much too enjoy.
By the way, IF the newly formed company gets its way to start using the grounds again...the parking space LUNG goes too. So once again, unless you walk your dog everyday in our town instead of joining the thousands who invade your promenade...IT IS VERY CLEAR. YOU WANT THE TRADE FAIR...This article must have really irked you, didn't it? The title has nothing to do with "open space", yet you so angrily hit out at these people.
The area has been a LUNG for already two & a half years...for all we know it may remain that way for many years to come unless the Trade Fair comes back!
Hope that you find a mistake or two...(at least it will give you something valid to comment about).
Mr Grech & Mr Fenech, keep up the good work.
S. Fenech
Feb 11th 2010, 13:20
@ D. Dalli (cont...)
as for the houses "around there", I happened to live in one of them. Yes, and my main concern is not what happens to the value of my property, as I put a lifetime investment on my property, in order to LIVE there in a serene environment, but protecting my serene environment from Festivals, Concerts, and all the other activities which the new company intends to organise all year long.
If you are asking from where we are quoting such events, "Festivals" which normally host not one but a number of concerts was mentioned by the management of TFEA Ltd. on The Malta Business Weekly on the 7th January (for summer and winter), while for concerts we have reasons to believe that these were on the agenda too, as one had just been stopped by the local council this month as was stated in a public local council meeting.
So if you really have the environment at heart, may I please remind you that the environment is not just the air we breathe, but all the noises that surround us, the inconveniences of where we live, and anything that surrounds us.
S. Fenech
Feb 11th 2010, 13:04
@D. Dalli,
does it amuse you much picking up on typos found in valid comments for the sake of it, and then stuff them with such non-sense as the "garaxx ta' cikku" and the "valenu of the spray"? Are you trying to play the poshy guy, or would you like to give any particular attributes to houswives living in the core of the village? I think that if you have the environment so high on your priority list, the least you can do is be coherent with your comments.
Since you haven't rebutted any of my comments lately I am presuming you are agreeing with what I had to say, or else I am not being considered up to standard to merit your attention anymore?
I do not think I shall quote anything more, as it seems you are getting lost in all these facts. We residents have nothing against people giving their opinions, but please when you do, we appreciate if you give us solid arguments based on current provable and documented facts, not on speculations in order to instigate any other non sense such as what you have tried to do till now.
D.Dalli
Feb 11th 2010, 12:01
M.Grech
I can assure you (as if I care what you fairytale about me), it is you who got it wrong on me - I only exchanged your ORIGINAL insultive supposition that I have any vested interest in the trade fair (beyond the environmental aspect of leaving a large LUNG and open space in Naxxar, for people to enjoy and not for business people to speculate and create jungle towns).
The fact that you're a woman, though, escapes me why you can't have any future personal family interests. Duh! I'm sure many housewives were bemused with your comment.
Please tell me what the "Major" tells you, as I'm dying to know what our platoons think of this dilemma :)
As long as I have a constitutional right to speak my mind, I will defend the environment against un-needed large tracts of land being built up. This nothwithstanding, the people having property around there, will have their property value going down after the jungle housing is built u nenu jibda jsewwi l-karozzi tal-hbieb fil-garaxx u cikku jaghmel ftit ghamara ghan-nies bil-valenu ta l-ispray etc..
Mattea Grech
Feb 10th 2010, 22:32
Dear D Dalli
You got it all wrong. I am a house wife and a mother of two kids with no family interest in property what-so-ever.
I would like to thank the authors of this article. Over the weekend, my husband and I had the time to review the mepa documents. They are very clear in what they state.
This morning after mass at the Naxxar Church we discussed the issue with a few of our neighbours who like us were unaware of this situation. We shall be forwarding our worries to the Major.
Your reasoning is very worrying to say the least. You fire arguments that do not hold water. You picked on all the individuals in this blog who ‘very rightly so’ have a just cause to stand for (now I add myself to the list). To me ‘YOU DO HAVE A CONNECTION WITH SOMETHING RELATED TO THE FAIR’...it is very clear, otherwise you would have invested your energy in tackling your own “headaches”.
Good night
Mrs M Grech
S. Fenech
Feb 10th 2010, 12:52
@ D. Dalli
It is interesting how you twist comments upside down. Did Mr. Grech mention anywhere that he is interested in seeing the area being built up. Why are you people trying to use the idea of the way the area could be built?
May I point out, that it was an application for a Highrise way back in 2004 that actually was the cathalist for the main amendments in the Action Plan in 2006 for which Appendix C was added, and made clear indications on the ways this piece of land can be developed.
Quoting you "The then fair management did not sign up (according to what was said) was that the fees asked were exorbitant. The present owners might have given a better deal now. "
Is it possible that the present owners are not finding developers ready to develop this stretch of land according to the policy plans, leaving them with a stretch of land which is not as profitable as it used to be back then, and thus the new 5 year lease which can then become a 10 year lease and more is the only possible outcome for them?
D.Dalli
Feb 10th 2010, 12:30
M.Grech
How puerile. You question about my stake could be posed to you on what stake do you have? Do you work in the construction industry? Are you a property agent worker. Does it benefit you if that whole area is built up jungle town because the more properties the lesser the value and you can invest? What is your interest in building up one of the few last lungs of that area of Naxxar.
I have no interest in the fair whatsoever. The fact that presently I do not live in naxxar does not exclude me from having an opinion, just as like you probably had an opinion about the Sliema residents reserved parking scheme, or if Golden bay was going to be obleterated from the fact of the earth and built up because a few persoFns cannot stand the MAIN fair having an impact for a short while. Sorry then, why should Floriana residents put up with mass meetings on the fossos? Your arguments and those of Woods asking my interest is stuipid. My interests are in Malta and where I live I do have my own headached because of 1000s of people EVERYDAY coming for a stroll.
L. Woods
Feb 9th 2010, 17:04
@ D. Dalli
I fail to understand your interest here.
All I know is that we are free to express our concerns especially if it is legally and morally correct =) (now that sounds familiar) and if you have a problem with that we'll see when there will eventually be an end to it but may I remind you that as they say: lt-tajjeb dejjem jirbah !! No one can stop us residents in fighting this issue as much as we wont stop you if you have an issue of your own.
S. Fenech
Feb 9th 2010, 16:35
@D.Dalli
For once we can see eye to eye on one point. We are living in a country where authorities are being pumped millions to develop such plans, only to be reviewed every now and then to accommodate people like TFEA Ltd., or the people who in Attard developed the lovely skyscrapers after the policies were revisited in 8-10 years (which in our case this is not the case as yet)
For this we have to thank MEPA. As we are now in a state of fact where persons like you are comfortable enough with this, and are accepting that such policies are being changed to accomodate that the few rich get wealthier at the expense of us common residents
M Grech
Feb 9th 2010, 16:30
Hi all below
I only just stumbled across the article now & it is MEPA which grabbed my attention because I have a personal pending issue with this entity. I also happen to be from Naxxar & so this becomes my territory too.
The underwear comment got me laughing & it is clear that there is a personal issue between some bloggers & thus I fast-read them all.
Mr / Mrs Dalli...once such a plan is in the public domain it is only fair that it gets abided by. That is how a democratic country works. I happen to live in an alley by the church. It is not nine days of ‘no-go zone’ but every month there was something and traffic / parking was a nightmare.
It is very clear that the Trade Fair has no place in Naxxar...as told by MEPA. What baffles me about your comments is that there already exists a fair in Ta’ Qali so I question...what is at stake for you D. Dalli? Why are you so angry about something which SHOULD not interest you? Let us Naxxarin do what we feel is just and more importantly, protect what was promised.
D.Bartman
Feb 9th 2010, 15:58
Ejja ha imorru it trade fair...
D.Dalli
Feb 9th 2010, 15:57
@Cartman
I am taking this serious, if you joke around my boxers once more, I shall stop writing here (Tongue in cheek).
Now tell me, Sir, what do you prefer. An open space with garden, with some views or hoards of buildings with cars oozing out fumes, children running around screaming the living day lights out of you. Agnes and George screaming their heads out at each other, etc. etc.. Everyday of the year? For a little sacrifice, 9 or so days which argueably are a problem, in July. Again, most of the other fairs are so small that their a non issue.
Naxxar needs open spaces, not built up areas. What do you want ? Another Labour Avenue? ir a Birguma jungle?
There is an opportunity cost in everything you choose - assuming you look beyond your nose (naxxurin ie.)
S.Fenech. Attard locality had clear "rules" on the height of buildings. every 8-10 years these policies are revisited, and hence you start getting the lovely large skyscrapers. Once you build a place, there is no stopping this. Unless you're in Mdina. :D You're better off with the open space and gardens within, then buildings.
S. Fenech
Feb 9th 2010, 15:55
@D.Dalli
Thanks for pointing out the issue of the fees. I find it hard for a man in the street to know of such facts.
Again, since you mentioned the issue of the bottle-neck, may I again point you to the local policy plans, which also highlights this problem and states that such development is also allowed once such problems are overcome through redesign of the current roads leading to these grounds.
D.Dalli
Feb 9th 2010, 15:36
@Andrew Grech
Dear Naxxuri.
If you didn't know that Naxxar people find themselves as Naxxurin, you probably need to live a few more years there before calling yourself a local. Assure you - no offense intended, it is a well known call name, every naxxuri (true naxxuri, mhux xi wiehed li gie min barra) knows about.
Taliban-well, I 'admire' people like you, who calls me disrespectful for using a well known Naxxuri name-but then, further up the note, he calls the person a Taliban. Cool!
The then fair management did not sign up (according to what was said) was that the fees asked were exorbitant. The present owners might have given a better deal now.
I understand about the rules about heights etc.. of property. In fact I did not say maqqjel flats bhal ta bugibba, but luxurous ones. Now if you think, you'll get only 1 or 2 flats with one or two families in that huge area, I think you're a bit Alice in Wonderland. The amount of property that will go in that area will create bottlenecks and problems everyday
(S.Fench-wasn't it case closed? :D)
E. Cartman
Feb 9th 2010, 15:25
@ D.Dalli
First off I apologise for assuming that you wear panties. I understand why you could have gotten upset at this, since I'm sure you are very fond of your knickers.
Secondly, I had already read through your earlier comments before, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt, and ventured through them again. This time around, however, I was wearing my goofily oversized spectalces to make sure that none of your masterfully crafted arguments pass by unnoticed...
...which left me with one of two possible conclusions. Either (A) my temporal bouts of ADD are kicking in again or (B) you must have been inadvertently inhaling some concoction of toxic fumes. For your own health and safety, please ensure you are not in the vicinity of:
* Leaking refrigerators.
* Open paint buckets.
* Bonding glue.
* Faulty gas tanks.
* Petrol fumes.
* Snoop Dogg.
Peace.
Andrew Grech
Feb 9th 2010, 14:59
@ D Dalli
The Taliban regime is looking for a new leader. If you are interested please read on.
Individual possessing the following talents will be given preference; anarchistic, macho-attitude, indifferent and lawless.
Shooting practice will be given as WE target a specific ILLEGAL enemy roaming OUR homeland. Friendly-fire accidents will not be tolerated - that's our policy (and like all policies, it gets respected)
Case closed.
p.s. It's Naxxarin and not Naxxurin. (show some respect...)
p.s. 2 - If you bothered to read the article and / or the Local Plan you will clearly see that it goes into such detail as height limitations, landscaping, etc...
p.s. 3 - MEPA dates and Trade Fair closure (read above...again!!)...I fully agree, wonder why the then fair management (same as the new one wanting to come back to Naxxar) did not sign up!! DAAAHHHH
S. Fenech
Feb 9th 2010, 14:56
@D.Dalli
For your information, gone the Trade Fair, there is a whole appendix on the same local plan which clearly lines out what kind of properties can be built on the plot of land. Before you contradict your statements, inform yourself on all the available information.
The Trade Fair Grounds contain areas which are classified Class A for conservation, and the same Appendix C on the Central Local Plan clearly indicate that such areas need to be conserverd. It also state that the highest building (and only allowed on very limited exceptions also stated on the local plan) is of five stories and these are only allowed on the sides of the property, moreover, the current footprint of the buildings and the current open spaces need to be respected with a maximum footprint of 50%, and the central area of the land has to be designed in a way not to obstruct the UCA of the core village. All this is explained in detail. So I suggest you go through it before making a fool of yourself with such stupid comments.
Fortunately provision has been taken back in 2006 to avoid a new Sliema.
D.Dalli
Feb 9th 2010, 13:19
Cartman
I wear boxers not panties please, a tad unlike your bloomers :)
To answer you (haven't I already?) Read on, you're not even reading previous posts, which says a lot about your stand.
Don't take it for granted that all Naxxurin are at loggerheads with this, the people at the other end of naxxar are not miffed about it. Which says something about your armageddon scene.
What rules - Cartman? Policy maybe, and as I said policies change.
Who said that gone is the trade fair, you don't get a zillion, luxurious flats with a zillion people living there. With your house not even getting an ounce of sun radiation beyond 12:00 - 12:15? Imagine the open grounds (now) and then (armageddon Sliema?). With a zillion cars coming and going out of these flats. At least now you're worse off in July for 9 days (the rest of the fairs are so small you're not going to cry about those as well are you?)
I shall close with...Are you sure the MEPA policy back then was not an undercurrent to persuade the owners of the grounds to accept another long term rent agreement with the then fair management?
S. Fenech
Feb 9th 2010, 12:42
@D.Dalli
Stop putting words in my mouth. I never said anything about all the projects you mentioned. You were the one to mention Sant Antinin and all the rest. Did I ever say that we approve of any of them? NO. So stop stating otherwise.
All we are saying here is that the local policy plans are being breached. And for that, the Central Malta Local plan includes plans for Attard too. Until these are changed, any operations at the Trade Fair grounds would breach such plans. For these to be amended they need the approval of the MEPA Board and the Parliament. The latest changes on these policy plans were done back in 2006. So as they stand today, no the new company should be allowed to operate from there.
It is not a matter of being a spoilt brat. It is a matter of stopping someone going against the plans for the locality.
God forbid us, if we arrive at a point where we know someone is breaking the law or for all that matters twisting it for his needs, and we stay put. This is 2010 and not the middle ages.
E. Cartman
Feb 9th 2010, 12:31
@D. Dalli
I fail to understand why you keep getting your panties in a knot about this. What's egoistic about expecting people/organisations to follow the rules?
I think that the Naxxarin have the duty to speak up if they see that the laws/regulations are being broken. If we Maltese continue to take up such a passive stance towards this sort of wrongdoing, then I hope 2012 will indeed usher in the Armageddon!
Andrew Grech
Feb 9th 2010, 12:25
Dear D. Dalli
I would interpret Mr Portelli’s comment as one based around frustration witnessed from a first-hand point of view for so many years now, but you wouldn't know it.
To quote you, “My point, is that everything creates inconvenience”...unless YOU live in a lawless state or live by lawless principles, you may want to know that there is a difference between legal / permitted / authorised inconvenience & illegal inconvenience. Laws, Plans, etc are there to be fulfiilled & respected.
To quote you once again, ”Of course for you residents its unacceptable. It is only acceptable for you if this is done at some other poor guy's hometown, not yours”. If that is how YOU reason, good luck to you, but thank God you are in the minority.
Once again, “Dont hold your breath on MEPA. Policy changes happen”. You come across as a very disrespectful person or you have a hidden agenda I guess. Why these personal attacks. If you are not effected...just respect other peoples issues. Otherwise, come clean.
I look up to authority & I expect authority not to look down on us all & go by what they preach. I wish you would too.
D.Dalli
Feb 9th 2010, 12:08
S.Fenech
Rest assured I read your comment.
Gravity ? Tsk,Tsk, watching too many armageddon films are we?
Located where they cause less convenience? Where please? Somewhere 30 miles North of Malta, 30 miles south of Sicily?
Which your next silly point would be...mela nowhere. Ok - and what about the powestation, the St. antnin plant, the airport, freeport, seaport, industries, etc.. .etc.. Shall we do away with those?
Would your next one be that business is less important than the above? Assure you - if you state that, then you dont know what you're talking about.
Before you think I am doing any sort of town killing here. I have my equal share of burdon where I live, I have family (X2) living in Naxxarm but I am only trying to make you aware that you are being like a spoilt brat. People like you (naxxurin) will claim the freeport extension is a necessary evil for the economy, but the trade fair is not (as it hits home).
Words dont show emotions, so rest assured I am not angry at you, just amused at your egoistic stand (and by you I mean Naxxar people not you personally)
S. Fenech
Feb 9th 2010, 11:14
@D.Dalli
Did you read my comment:
I said that these activities should be located where they cause the least inconvenience.
I am on no high horse. For now the policies are as they are quoted. When these are changed we shall see. But for now, the policies are what they are. Like it or not.
Case closed from my side. Already said enough. If you do not want to understand the gravity of all this, I can understand why our country in such a pity state.
S. Fenech
Feb 9th 2010, 11:05
@D Dalli (cont...)
Just for the sake of your argument, we residents of Naxxar had been faced with a landfill much worse than Sant Antnin for the past 40 years with Mount Maghtab puffing poisonous gases on our residenses.
Not to mention the quaries and the explosives used in these quarries.
Do not think that we are not aware of all the problems in other villages. What we are trying to stop here is actually this. When someone should not be allowed to do any activity should be stopped and not left to operate in the name of economy or commerce. We are pumping millions to MEPA to draft plans for our country only for such plans to be thrown down the drain by a bunch of cowboy businessman who believe they are above every law and stating stupidities such as "Only God Shall Stop Us"
Give us a break...
D.Dalli
Feb 9th 2010, 11:00
S.Fenech
How can you say I am saying nonsense when your reply clearly shows you did not read mine.
My point, is that everything creates inconveniece. Even the trade fair at ta Qali and numero uno disco at ta Qali for Attard residents. And a million other things (mentioned in my previous note, which you did not read).
Of course for you residents its unacceptable. It is only acceptable for you if this is done at some other poor guy's hometown, not yours. Which again is the gist of my previous note which for sure you did not read.
Dont hold your breath on MEPA. Policy changes happen. Where I live, for miles, was a green area. Policy change and now I live in the middle of a concrete jungle.
Come down from that high horse dear and join the rest of us common mortals.
S. Fenech
Feb 9th 2010, 10:46
@D.Dalli
Your comment is absolutly non-sense. What Mr. Portelli was actually stating is completely different from what you are saying.
If a restaurant opens anywhere around Malta, it should have the necessary licenses as otherwise MEPA would close it down. If you have any activity open for business anywhere around the island, then it should provide the necessary licenses to MEPA before the residents starts complaining about the nuisances. Up till now no licenses were provided and neither an official statement from MEPA, other then from an unonymous official. In such a case, MEPA should not allow such a venue to be used, neither as fair ground nor as any other multipurpose us, as indicated by the management of TFEA Ltd. For us residents this is just unacceptable, especially with the policy plans qouted in this letter.
Moroeover, Mr. Portelli clearly stated that such fairs should never be located where they cause inconveniences to the residents being Naxxar or any other location around Malta. If there is no such place, then sorry, MEPA clearly told us that Naxxar is not adecquate for them, and that is pure fact. We do not want them neither.
D.Dalli
Feb 8th 2010, 22:22
Chris Portelli
Eh hi, mela. But if everyone had to reason things out egoistically as you, then:
You would have no where to go Saturday evening because nobody wants restaurants/bars/cinemas/discos/nightclubs/etcc next to their door
You'd have to see how to generate your own electricity and water because no one wants those digusting structures in their hometown
You'd have to see where you're going to store garbage in your house becuase no one wants a land fill in his hometown
You'd have to recycle in your home(town) because no one wants a Sant Antinin plant
You'd have to see how you're going to earn money because no one wants a Freeport/airport/seaport/SGS/etc building next to them
You'd have to see how to get foreign currency because you dont want a hotel next to u
You'd have to hear mass on telly because most people dont want a church (remember the huge one at Bugibba?) next to his house and all the people and cars every day causing a panic.
I think, considering the above, your arguments are childish. It's ok to go to cause havoc elsewhere, but in Naxxar no.
Chris Portelli
Feb 8th 2010, 17:07
I think we have had enough of 'other' people, people not from Naxxar or the vicinity of the former Trade Fair Grounds, telling us what we ought to feel, what we ought to learn, what we ought to think, and what we ought to do. No...and a strong 'no' at that... we do not want the Trade Fair back. What did we get? We got a lot of sound coming from the grounds, varying in style and volume. We get brochures, papers, ads, packaging, tickets etc littering the whole area , residential parking taken over by non-residents, smoke pollution and useless intrusion on our normal life. The problem is that this does not happen once a year....but at least once a month...and the more activities the better....the more income. Let there be a Trade fair if the commercial section feels so, but somewhere , where it does not interfere with the normal life of residents. After all having the Trade Fair somewhere else is not going to affect the Maltese Economy, or the Business community or anyone else at that. It will only affect those who regardless of everything else want to make this a money making venture.
Eleonora Agius
Feb 8th 2010, 16:26
I am a resident of Naxxar. To be honest I was unaware of these recent developments. All I knew is that the Trade Fairs had stopped operating from Naxxar in 2007 & had moved to Ta’ Qali & to my best of knowledge, this was for good. I have not yet looked into the MEPA document but if the above is the case I would expect MEPA to honour their position on this topic. With regards to Mr Abela, if he is going against any laws, he should be stopped by the competent authorities & I see it very illogical for potential exhibitors to support his events. I live in a side road that leads towards the town centre. When the trade fair was on I had to try & leave work at an early hour due to all the traffic. Otherwise it was hell–even up to 30mins stuck in traffic within 500m of my flat & this is the case with all the roads leading to Naxxar because I have tried all routes. I am sure that if a petition had to do the rounds, there will be huge support from Naxxar residents against any fair coming back.
M. Attard
Feb 8th 2010, 15:55
@ Deo Catania
I wonder if you actually read the letter or you simply have nothing to do and decided to post nonesense here. We are talking on broken promises here and I politely ask you that unless you are somehow involved its best you keep such statements to yourself. If one day you decide to invest thousand knowing that they ll be going down the drain then maybe you can somehow understand our concerns. We are witnessing another U-Turn and it is our interest to fight for our rights !!
Leone Zammit
Feb 8th 2010, 14:49
@Deo Catania
Sa l-2007, ahna in-Naxxarin konna naghlqu halqna u nitqannaw b'dak kollu li kienet iggib maghha il-fiera. Issa, il-MEPA u l-esperti taghha iddikjaraw (fl-2006) li in-Naxxar m'ghadux lok ghal dawn it-tip ta' attivitajiet minhabba ragunijiet varji.
Jekk taqra sew din l-ittra tinduna li mhux in-nies qaluh dan, imma l-MEPA, l-awtorita li ahna r-residenti flimkien mal-kumplament tal-Maltin qed inhallsu il-belli Ewro biex jipjanaw pajjizna.
Issa qed ikun hemm kumpanija, li mhux talli trid torganizza l-fieri, imma attivitajiet maghtul is-sena kollha fosthom "Festivals" jew ahjar kif hafna jafuhom kuncerti fis-sajf u fix-xitwa, hekk kif kien kwotat "Fil-Malta Business Weekly tas-7 ta' Jannar.
U dan kollhu f'nofs ir-rahal tan-Naxxar, ghax ghal min ma jafx, ghalkemm l-entratura tal-Fiera tinsab fit-tarf tar-rahal, l-art testendi sal qalba l-antika tar-rahal. Tahseb li hawn xi hadd jiehu pjacir, b'attivitajiet kontinwi kull gimgha?
Ghamlina l-fuq min hamsin sena nissaportu, issa li l-Mepa qalet li ma jistawx isiru izjed fieri nipretendu li dak li kien imwieghed jinzamm.
Andrew Grech
Feb 8th 2010, 14:42
@Deo...Sinjal li ma fhimt xej minn dak li hemm miktub fl-artiklu.
Gejna mweghda xi haga kif spegat fl-artiklu u issa hemm kumpanija li qeghda tipprova terga tibda l-fieri gewwa n-Naxxar. Dik l-istorja kollha.
Sa fejn naf jien m'hemm ebda ligi li tirregola fej wiehed jista jahdem jew le u l-attivitajiet l'ohra isehhu ghax hemm permessi, etc...
Deo Catania
Feb 8th 2010, 13:44
Qisu n-Naxxar biss jghixu n-nies x'kull wahda. Qatt ma tmorru attivitajiet fi bliet u rhula ohra intom ir-residenti tan-Naxxar? u ghax-xoghol x'taghmlu?
L. Abela
Feb 8th 2010, 11:19
An article of this kind reminds me that we still live in a society where people fight for their rights no matter how "common" they are. Everyone has the right to fight what is best for them and their families especially when they are supported with legal background and such policies from Authorities which were created on purpose. I wish the writers the very best as like them I am hoping that the property I just invested in just behind the trade Fair grounds will be a home for me and not and dumping site for the upcoming events.
A big thank you goes to our local Council who is being very supportive and understanding to its residents.
I am looking forward to hear a decent conclusion to this night mare as we have been left far too long in the dark now.