A decision on the proposed construction of a two-storey winery in Bidnija, being opposed by residents and the Mosta local council, is expected to be made on July 25.

The outline development permit for the construction of the winery below street level was initially refused by the planning authority but the planning appeals board had issued the outline permit in 2006.

Residents are demanding the revocation of the permit, claiming it was based on wrong information by the applicant and went against established planning policies. Joanne Vella Cuschieri, representing some of the residents at the planning board’s meeting, yesterday argued that the appeals board should revoke the outline permit because it did not abide by an agriculture policy laying down that the applicant had to have two hectares of vineyard holdings within 500 metres.

The outline permit did not abide by an agriculture policy

She insisted that the decision on the full development permit should wait for the tribunal’s decision.

The case officer noted that the vineyards indicated in the permit covered 1.3 hectares within a distance of 750 metres. When asked by chairman Vincent Cassar to clarify, the case officer confirmed that the policy actually allowed for the building of a winery if the applicant had two hectares of vineyard holdings within 500 metres.

Mosta mayor Shirley Farrugia said the local council was concerned about the industrial operation of the proposed winery in a residential area, vehicular access to the site through a narrow road and the noise impact on residents.

About 30 Bidnija residents had presented a petition to the planning authority urging the regulator not to grant a full development permit to Stephen Galea for the construction of the winery in Il-Milord Street.

Mr Galea insisted that his proposed development was not large and, as a producer, he did not spend more than a month and a half to prepare the wine while there would only be a couple of vans accessing the site daily.

The decision was put off to July 25 by when the appeals board would have issued a reply to the residents’ request. The board also asked the applicant to provide an engineer’s report on ventilation, among other documents, and to aesthetically improve the side walls of the winery.

An application for the installation of underground LPG tanks at Smart City was also approved.