Juan Ameen
Xewkija supermarket plans approved with strict conditions
A planning authority commission has approved an outline permit for a supermarket in Xewkija but banned any development on the site that would fall outside the development scheme.
The permit, approved by the Environment and Planning Commission, is to build a supermarket and car park with 81 spaces on a site measuring approximately 4,780 square metres on Mġarr Road.
The project had originally been recommended for refusal because the developers had failed to submit an adequate traffic impact statement, deemed a key issue.
Another issue of concern that had been raised by the planning directorate was that half of the proposed development, the car park, was planned on a part of the site that was outside development zone.
However, a planning authority spokesman explained yesterday that the main reason for the “refuse” recommendation – the traffic impact statement – had been addressed after the developer submitted another one to Transport Malta, which was approved.
Also, the board included a condition in the outline permit, which covers the footprint of the development, banning any form of development, building or car park beyond the development boundary, the spokesman said.
Environmental organisation Flimkien għal-Ambjent Aħjar said the commission had “no choice but to approve the permit of a supermarket on agricultural land since this was designated as a development zone in the local plans, even though much of the industrial estate just across the road is empty and neglected”.
These changes to the local plans would also accommodate the Lidl supermarket which had a pending application on agricultural land four sites away in the same valley, the NGO pointed out.
It also noted that the planning authority board was today set to decide on an application to build 46 apartments and garages in a valley at Luqa.
“This valley, full of protected carob and dry stone walls, was taken over as developable in the rationalisation plans when facing the valley are rows of unsold new apartments,” it complained.
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Edward Mallia
Oct 13th 2011, 12:35
How very strict the condition that there isto be NO DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE ...SCHEME!! That's mere observance of the law. And the law has already been stretched so as to allow the take up of areas of agricultural land when there is the virtual ghost town of Xewkija Industrial Estate just next door. This is another bold deed in the direction of Eco-Gozo. When the NEXT Gozo supermarket application on arable land goes through, perhaps we can change the name to Echo-Gozo, as Gozo, apart from VAT returns and feed-in tariff for PV, seems to be merely parroting Malta. But I must admit to being a little confused on these geographical limits. The Times, inoncemore requesting my telephone number and address, had "Malta and Gozo" in the box labelled "Country". Have they changed the name of the Republic?nd "Padania
G G Debono
Oct 13th 2011, 10:34
G G Debono
Today, 00:53
There are many reasons - social, environmental and health - why this preposterous development must be stopped.:
1 ) Building such supermarkets is just a matter of profit for the few at other peoples’ expense.
2 ) For every large supermarket built a number of smaller shops will go out of business and close down, thus depriving towns and villages of many grocer shops and small corner supermarkets. This is anti-social.
3 ) The social focus for the elderly or less well-off provided by such small neighbourhood grocers and shops will be destroyed.
3 ) Supermarkets sited away from residential areas are anti-social as they only benefit people who own cars and deprive the less privileged and the old of their nearby grocer have displaced the shop-around-the-corner to which they used to walk. Now people will walk less because they have to use heir car.
4 ) Building such supermarkets on virgin land is now criminal especially when there is absolutely no social need for it and the only purpose is profit.
5 ) Supermarkets away from residential areas oblige people to use their car – increasing traffic, carbon emissions and p[ollution.
6 ) .............and how is this happening in ECO GOZO ?
SHAME !
Mr A. Mizzi
Oct 13th 2011, 09:01
Someone will sure be getting a nice big fat turkey or hamper...and even before Christmas time !