Mepa delays decision on horse track sanctioning request

The planning authority has postponed a decision on whether to sanction a horse track and hay store in order to seek legal advice on whether it could bind the owner to use the property exclusively for his horses.

The applicant, Cristinu Cassar, had filed an application to sanction a horse training track and hay store he built on a plot of land at Lunzjata, limits of Rabat. The 1,800-square- metre area lies in the middle of agricultural land.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority's planning directorate objected to the sanctioning of the property on grounds that the area's policies only allowed the land to be used as farmland and not for horses. In fact, Mr Cassar had also applied for a full development permit to build stables and paddocks for his five horses, which he already keeps there.

Mr Cassar's lawyer, Matthew Brincat, argued that his client was a horse lover and did not have any ulterior motives in building the stables. "It truly hurts me to see people not interested in horses building stables as an excuse," he said.

Dr Brincat, who is also chairman of the Malta Racing Club, said Mr Cassar was registered with the club and was ready to accept any conditions the board tied with the permit.

Planning authority chairman Austin Walker suggested postponing the decision by a fortnight to see whether the permit could be tied to a public contract that would bind Mr Cassar to solely keeping horses on site.

Mr Walker's motion was approved by all board members with the exception of Labour MP Roderick Galdes, who voted against.