A kerbside petrol station in St Julian’s will be relocated to a parking area a few metres away after it was given the go-ahead by the planning authority yesterday.
The permit paves the way for the construction of a fuel service station, which will be shifted from its current location in Birkirkara Road, St Julian’s. A basement level store of around 200 square metres, a small service station outlet and a car wash for two vehicles will also be built. The car wash will use water from a reservoir.
The application was considered to be acceptable as an outline permit had already been granted. It also had the go-ahead of various departments, including the Malta Resources Authority.
The site is located in the limits of San Ġwann at the junction where vehicles can turn up to Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli. The fuel station will be built in the area currently hosting a large traffic island, which is used as a car park. Adjacent to it is a children’s play area.
For years, the petrol station had been a hazard and inconvenience to residents living in the vicinity
Following due consideration by the Planning Directorate, it was established that a proposed shop “is an intrinsic part of all fuel-filling stations since vehicle-related goods would be bought while vehicles are on site for refuelling”.
When the outline development was approved, a previous planning board had noted that, for years, the petrol station had been a hazard and inconvenience to residents living in the vicinity and for traffic driving up to San Ġwann.
The use of the land as a petrol station was considered acceptable in principle because the proposal entailed the relocation of a kerb-side petrol station to a better place.
Vehicles will access the petrol station from the road in the direction from St Julian’s to San Ġwann.
During the discussions for the outline permit, the possibility of a roundabout instead of the present traffic lights system was mentioned but no decision was taken pending relevant studies. It was recommended that the service station, if granted permission to relocate, would not be allowed to operate before the roundabout is constructed and fully functional.
However, the case officer said that, when consulted for the full development application, Transport Malta did not object to the proposed development and “did not place any requirements on the applicant in relation to the roundabout”.