The planning authority should ensure that if it eventually grants the Valletta council a permit for the development of a hotel on the Marsamxett waterfront, the property remains would remain a hotel and does not eventually mutate into private apartments for the benefit of the developer, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar said.

This, it said in a statement, had been the case with other hotels including the Mgarr Hotel in Gozo.

FAA noted that the authority (Mepa) had sent back an outline development application for the conversion of a property into a hotel on the Marsamxett waterfront by the Valletta council due to incomplete and incorrect information.

It said that the site notice was affixed on the bastion wall across the road, a good 20 metres away from the property, and was only discovered shortly before the deadline for objections expired soon after Christmas.

The application stated that the development would include the restoration of the house of Mattia Preti.

But FAA noted that according to Victor Denaro's book on Valletta houses, Mattia Preti's house was at No 10 St Patrick's street Valletta and not on the Marsamxett waterfront.

The artist's house was demolished in the fifties to make way for the reconstruction of the Manderaggio area.

(Adds mayor's reaction)

The property under application, it said, had been earmarked to become a home for the elderly which was lacking in Valletta.

"It would appear to be more within the remit of a local council to make use of existing properties for such a purpose rather than teaming up with private investors to go into business."

However, FAA appreciated the fact that the property in question has been abandoned and derelict for a number of years and a hotel could be an asset to Valletta.

It hoped that Mepa would ensure that the property remained a hotel and did not eventually mutate into private apartments. It should also ensure that residents in neighbouring properties were not overshadowed or disturbed by the addition of floors, or discotheques at roof level.

Equally important was the visual impact and architectural style of any development in Valletta and especially on the Marsamxett waterfront, visible from miles away.

Of equal concern, FAA said, was the fact that if Mepa granted this application the right to annexe the waterpolo pitch as the hotel's beach concession, Valletta would lose its waterpolo pitch forever.

Up to a few years ago Valletta had a vibrant and active waterpolo team and that the waterpolo pitch had been allowed to deteriorate to its present state was a sad reflection on the local administration.

"With so few sports facilities available for Valletta's youth, it should have been a priority to ensure that adequate management was found for the waterpolo pitch.

"A vibrant waterpolo pitch would offer the opportunity to organise swimming lessons for the young and not so young as well as other special events."

FAA said the public, especially residents swam there with their families in summer would lose another sizeable chunk of foreshore which by right belonged to them.

This, it said, was designated by Roman Law which established the depth of public ownership of foreshore: "as far as the sea waves can reach".

These concessions to hotels were eating into public space on the foreshore all over Malta and Gozo, however, few densely-inhabited coastal zones had as few beach facilities as Valletta, it said.

MAYOR'S REACTION

Valletta mayor Alexei Dingli told timesofmalta.com the aim of the council was not a speculative one, as was being insinuated.

“Valletta lacks hotels of a certain standard, with the best offered being three star. Moreover, the council aims to reinvest the income that would be generated from the development in the city.

Dr Dingli said that as a third of Valletta’s population was over 60, an old people’s home was not feasible.

A home would offer a limited number of spaces and many residents would not be accommodated.

So the council’s strategy was to have the right infrastructure for the residents to be able to continue living in Valletta.

He denied that the council would even consider taking the waterpolo pitch as a beach concession for the hotel.

The pitch had deteriorated because of bad management and the council’s idea was to pass this on to the private sector.

The council wanted to revive its waterpolo team to what it once was, Dr Dingli said.