Peter Gingell, Mepa Communications Office, Floriana
Dwejra interpretation centre
The article entitled 'NGOs disheartened over Dwejra structure approval' (The Sunday Times, March 21) and accompanying photo of the existing skeleton structure may have given the impression that the Dwejra interpretation centre that was approved on March 18 does not vary from the structure shown in your photo. This is not the case.
Subsequent to the assembling of the concrete structure shown in your picture, and which currently stands at Dwejra, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority had halted the development as this varied from the original permit for a number of reasons.
The applicant resubmitted an application with significant changes to the design of the entire interpretation center and its ancillary facilities. This redesign includes the removal of the entire upper floor structure that was effectively built at street level. Thus the structure above street level will effectively now be reduced by 50 per cent. Moreover, the applicant now restricted the catering element in the proposal to the use of the roof level as an open air catering facility. Shade for the outdoor facility will be provided by means of a removable wooden canopy.
The fabrics of the structure to be used externally have also changed allowing the holistic redesign of the structure to blend in more with the surrounding environment.
The Mepa board approved these amendments to the original permit for the construction of an interpretation centre because the Dwejra Heritage Park needs facilities that can enhance the experience of visitors to this area and provide them with sanitary facilities. At the same time, all possible measures have been taken to significantly reduce the impact that this structure will have on the surrounding environment.
Editor's note: The article in question gave no such impression. It reflected the present and future state of affairs.
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Victor Laiviera
Apr 4th 2010, 19:51
Mr Gingell, the people have seen through the ploy of disguising a restaurant as an "Interpretation Centre" in order to get round the regulations.
One wonders what this "Interpretations Centre" will consist of. Perhaps a couple of racks at the back of the restaurant filled with Tourism Offce literature?
lgalea
Apr 4th 2010, 19:01
MEPA is one of the most disgusting institutions in Malta. That is what the vast majority of Maltese citizens think Mr Gingell.
Jimmy Magro
Apr 4th 2010, 17:09
Mr. MEPA
whatever you say about the issue, your must be shameful for the approval of this permit. The negatives by far outweigh any claimed benefits.
Thank God the law does not provide for criminal proceedings as I have been campainging for.
James A. Tyrrell
Apr 4th 2010, 13:31
I have to agree with the editor here that no such impression was given in the original article. Perhaps Peter Gingell would be kind enough to explain why when MEPA had turned down the building of a restaurant in this area on a number of previous occasions they now suddenly decided that it was okay? Was it because the developer changed the name from "restaurant" to "Dwejra interpretation centre?" Perhaps it was the provision of "sanitary facilities" that swung it.
The whole idea behind enhancing the experience of visitors as you put it is to do so without destroying the overall natural look of the area. In case Peter has a problem understanding this concept it means ensuring that any necessary facilities are either hidden or blend in to the present area, not that they stick out like a sore thumb.