New Sliema kiosks get the 'green' light

The rundown kiosks at Sliema's Għar id-Dud will finally receive a much-needed facelift after almost 60 years, The Sunday Times has learnt.

The structures, currently a mix of aluminium, plastic and wood, will be replaced by green kiosks after the Malta Environment and Planning Authority gave the go-ahead.

The two kiosks, considered by many to be an eyesore, are owned by two brothers and are situated on each side of the prominent Sliema promenade. The third kiosk midway along the promenade has not yet filed a Mepa application for a facelift.

The €140,000 cast iron green kiosks, covering an area of 24 square metres, are expected to be in place by summer.

The owner was granted a permit for a one-metre extendible canopy. The overall height of the structure does not exceed 2.9 metres above the paving level.

According to a Mepa permit granted in January 2008, the owner of the kiosk, Eddie Tanti, excavated storage space underneath his new kiosk, which is closer to the sea than the previous structure.

However, the other kiosk opposite the Preluna Hotel was not granted permission to excavate storage space because of the presence of caves.

Mepa's Chalet development brief states there are no such caves on the Ferries' side of Għar id-Dud.

An underground car park was previously planned on the Ferries side but the plans were withdrawn after they were met with harsh criticism, especially from Qui-Si-Sana residents.

Works on a garden and a playground are underway on the Qui-Si-Sana promenade.