Residents’ associations in Sliema have expressed concern at the number of applications for change of use from shops to bars, cafes or restaurants at the Tigne peninsula.
In a statement, the Sliema Residents Association (SRA) and the Qui-Si-Sana & Tigne Residents Association (QTRA) said the Malta Environment and Planning Authority had seven such applications.
The said that the North Harbour Local Plan specifically excluded such premises from residential areas and incorporated a map precisely defining the residential areas of Sliema.
This type of development was obnoxious as it invariably led to noise from the establishment or its patrons. Moreover, unbecoming behavior and parking violations were often associated with and in the vicinity of such establishments.
The associations said that three of these applications were in the new MIDI development and therefore outside the map delineating Sliema’s residential areas. However, these establishments would still draw extra traffic and other objectionable activities to surrounding streets.
The other four were located within the defined residential area and common sense dictated that these would be refused outright.
The associations said that nevertheless, one permit had already been granted, with the MEPA Board B allowing a Paceville-specific policy to be applied to Sliema to justify the decision.
The case was under appeal, with the outcome of the other cases resting on the result of this appeal. Should the appeal be turned down, the floodgates would open for any shop in Sliema to be turned into a bar or restaurant. This decision posed yet another threat to the peace and well-being of Sliema residents, they said.
They noted that while the Prime Minister had stated publicly last June that MEPA should not allow exploitation of any loopholes which violated the spirit of planning policies, the granting of such permits in residential areas did precisely that and the impression was given that this type of practice was to stop.
However, one of the Mepa board’s recent decisions to sanction a kitchen in a commercial catering premises where no change of use had even been applied for, seriously undermined the Prime Minister’s statement.
Both SRA and QTRA appealed to the authorities to heed the Prime Minister’s statement and apply the law in the way it was intended, without any twists and turns seemingly aimed to accommodate further speculation against the rights of the residents.