Plan for a new fireworks factory gets turned down
Aerial view showing where the new fireworks factory was proposed.
A request to build a fireworks factory in the scenic Rabat countryside has been turned down.
The Environmental Planning Tribunal rejected an appeal by the Għaqda Mużikali Santa Marija of Dingli to build the factory in a high rise area in the countryside because it contravened planning policies.
The band club turned to the tribunal after a planning commission denied its request in 2010.
The club had originally owned a licensed fireworks factory in Dingli but had to close it down after the building scheme was extended and homes were built within the 200-metre buffer zone.
The permit for the fireworks factory was revoked and the band club tried to find an alternative site – away from buildings and farmers.
However, the site selection exercise proved difficult and the band club chose a site in an area known as Ix-Xagħri Ta’ l-Isqof. It argued that the land was already disturbed because it was being used as a dump site for construction waste and was easily accessible.
The band club admitted that the factory would have a visual impact in the area but suggested mitigating it through landscaping.
The project was criticised by the Rabat council and a pig breeder in the area who expressed concern that the loud bangs caused by the testing of fireworks would stress the pigs and, in turn, affect his business.
The environment tribunal noted the site was “ideal” because it was isolated from residents and farms and would not endanger anyone’s life.
However, the site was “precisely” at the top of a hill and the factory would be “very visible” to the extent that it would ruin the visual amenity of the area while “potentially prejudicing” good agricultural land nearby.
According to planning policies, fireworks factories may be built on disturbed land.
“It’s superfluous to argue whether the land is good for farming or not as it is untouched – certainly not a disturbed area,” the tribunal said.
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19 Comments
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Andrew Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 13:00
So the Dingli band club had a valid and legal fireworks factory which was rendered non operative by the Governments decision to built within the legal boundaries established by law. Yet the Dingli band club received no compensation for losing their legal fireoworks factory.
Bjorn Farrugia
Aug 20th 2012, 12:50
Fejn qijed l-aspett kulturali li ahna mrawmin fih!!! Milli jidher hadd ma jaf illi li kieku ma jkunx ghan-nar Malti kieku it-turizmu jonqos bin-nofs. U umbghad kulhadd jippretendi li l-affarjijiet jirharsu!! Ftakru li kollox huwa Katina u t-turizmu f’Malta parti minnha u li qighed izomm lil Malta hi kif inhi.
Haga ohra li nixtieq insemmi hija li kulhadd ghandu l-izvog tieghu. Dan huwa zvog li ahna ta’ min niftakru bih u mhux naghtuh bis-siq kif qal siehbi Mario Zammit. Huwa xoghol ta’ arti kbira li mhux kulhadd kapaci jaghmlu u jevalwa l-effet tal-murtall jew ballun hu x’inhu.
Mela m’ghandnix nghixu m’monotonija kuljum imbilli dak li jkun darba f’sena jisma ftit storbju mhix ser taqa d-dinja ta!!
fred sammut
Aug 20th 2012, 12:32
grazzi Mepa !!!
C Galea
Aug 20th 2012, 12:28
well done MEPA
Mr Mario Zammit
Aug 20th 2012, 12:00
Imbghad oqod ftahru li intom patriottici ta' Malta u ftahru bil-kultura Maltija meta fl-istess hin izebilhu u tghatu bis-sieq lill wiehed mill-aqwa aspettiti kulturali u artistici taghna l-Maltin; L-Arti tal-Piroteknika.
Marthese Mussett
Aug 20th 2012, 11:20
Well done MEPA.
Joscar Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 10:56
wicc vili min jahseb fih biss mhux dawn id dilettanti li jixtiequ jkollom fejn jahdmu nar u ma jistghux.Xi tridu jahdmu go djar la ma jkollom fejn jew?
Reginald Borg
Aug 20th 2012, 10:20
Well done, MEPA!
Keep it up!
Godfrey Tagliaferro
Aug 20th 2012, 09:11
U aremm ha toqoghdu titkellmu bl-ingliz !!
Din ha tkerrah l-ambjent?? Ghiduli intom . Jinbnew daqs dawn djar u appartamenti ma nafx kem il sular gholi u hadd ma jghid xejn. Zewg postijiet insemmi u dawn qatt ma jistghu jergghu jitrangaw... Il bini fil Wied tal Mosta u ta Bkara u ta Hal Qormi...kollha tista' tghid li nqerdu u dan ghalih hadd ma jghid xejn?? hadd ma jwaqqaf din l azzjoni u din tan nar mhux se nhalluha tghaddi?? Hawn talent artistiku enormi fost dawk li jaghmlu in nar...Idejqukom?? Hafna nies lghaxqa taghhom jarawhom ... Nghixu fost hafna affarijiet li ma rridux u li ma joghgbuniex u din tkun wahda ohra ghalikom...
Darby Allen
Aug 19th 2012, 17:51
Surely, we need even more fireworks factories than we have now!
Pamela Hansen
Aug 19th 2012, 17:45
What a relief. We need to start closing down fireworks factories. We on the Ferries side of Sliema have had to endure excessively loud bangs, sometimes for up to an hour at intervals during the day and at night, on Monday then on Friday, Saturday and today. This 'torture' in 'honour' of Stella Maris.
We now have the St Julians bombardment to the back of my area to look forward to.
Darby Allen
Aug 19th 2012, 19:02
Yes, we had it in Bugibba the other week; the fireworks were in Mellieha
If the firework makers put half the effort into making them colourful as they do into making them bang, we could be treated to some truly spectacular displays.
Please - more Lumière et less Son!
Joseph Fenech
Aug 20th 2012, 06:57
To Darby Allen
When where fireworks fired in Mellieha and you heared them from bugibba??? I really would like you to answer me !!!
Stephen Caruana
Aug 20th 2012, 12:23
Dear Pamela i truely believe that as a sliema resident you hear much more distrubing sounds ALL YEAR round!!! Fireworks are part of our culture! One of the few things which makes us proud when competing with foreigners!!
If you dont like our culture there is always a plane or boat to leave Malta when ever you like!
One other question do you have any hobby??
Darby Allen
Aug 20th 2012, 12:38
Joseph Fenech
During the last week of July this year!
Kevin Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 12:49
Ms. Hansen, of all the pollution you have in Sliema, with the thousands of cars that drive past below your apartment all day and all night, is it just a bang for 2 / 3 weekends a year that annoys you? You're blessed.
Peter Midler
Aug 19th 2012, 11:18
Imma kif il-wicc vili ta certu nies ma ghandux limitu?!
Not only do these people invade our ears and our peace with loud unpleasant noise of the much hated murtali and pollute the very air that we breathe by toxic gases. And not only do they pollute the soil with heavy toxic metals and other chemicals, but they also want to build a fireworks factory in a scenic Rabat countryside. U jekk ma tridx, din il-fabrika tal-istorbu jixtiequ jibnuwa fuq gholja!! X’jimporta milli tgharraq il-pajsagg?! Laqwa li nibnu karma tan-nar ohra!
Jekk din it-talba mhux tal-misthija, ma nafx x’inhi?
Well done Mepa for refusing the permit. The only way to regain respect of the public is to protect our environment.
Charles Muscat
Aug 19th 2012, 12:53
I agree well done MEPA
Stephen Caruana
Aug 20th 2012, 12:26
Peter i think mepa should regain respect by not giving permits to the pampalluni who are invading our few left natural environment with farm houses!!!!!!
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