Plans to replace the controversial shooting range that had been planned for Mosta with a boutique hotel and spa have been greeted positively by a number of groups and individuals.
TheTimes of Malta yesterday revealed that instead of the shooting range proposed by Russian investors, the area, which contains dilapidated barracks from World War II, will now be turned into a 30-room boutique hotel with a spa and restaurant.
Contacted by this newspaper, a spokesman for the Jesuit community, which manages the Mount St Joseph retreat facility in the area, said they had no objection to the development.
“From what we have learnt so far it seems that the development being proposed makes sense,” the spokesman said. “We had objected to the shooting range mainly because of the noise it would have created and because the development proposed was much bigger than the current area occupied by the barracks.”
He said that if the project gave a new look to the derelict facility and no extra development was involved, the project would be welcomed.
The same line was taken by Mosta mayor Edwin Vassallo, even though he complained about the lack of consultation over the project by the government.
“We have been given no information whatsoever and all we know is through the Times of Malta. I think this is not the way to do things and we should be given the necessary information in order to counter any speculation,” he said. “From what we’ve learnt so far, it seems that the conversion of the barracks into some kind of hotel makes sense and we have no problems with that. However, it is still early and we have to see the details,” he said.
It seems that the conversion into some kind of hotel makes sense.However , it is still early and we have to see the details
Mr Vassallo argued that his position would be different if the council learned that the hotel was to have a disco or some other noise-making activity.
“This is why we should be consulted on the details,” he added.
The barracks lie in an Outside Development Zone. Front Ħarsien ODZ chairman Michael Briguglio said his organisation still needed to discuss the new project. “We think that ODZ should be ODZ.
“However, since the area is already committed with the war barracks then the project to transform it into a small hotel is a different issue. But we need to see the exact plans first,” Mr Briguglio stressed.
Last July, following public uproar, the government decided to shoot down the Russian U-Group’s proposals, stating that the developers did not make it through the due diligence stage of the project.
The developers had not reacted. Instead, the government said that it would start discussions with the Busbesija Group which placed second in the original call for proposals.
The development of the area into a boutique hotel will be carried out by construction group GP Borg of Ta’ l-Ibraġġ.
A spokesman confirmed that the group is in negotiations with the government on the development of the site but preferred to call it a retreat house.
No development plans have been presented to Mepa yet.