The Qui-si-Sana and Sliema residents associations lament (December 21) that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority is trying to make a new Paceville out of Qui-si-Sana by granting a permit (PA1943/07) in 2007 to change a souvenir store into a tea shop, a decision confirmed by the Planning Appeals Board last month.
The authority denies it has any intention or is under any pressure to change the residential priority area of Qui-si-Sana, as earmarked in the North Harbours Local Plan, into an entertainment area. The permit did not transpose a Paceville policy onto Qui-si-Sana. The nature of this application was limited to a tea shop measuring 20 square meters, with a permit to allow only two small tables with three chairs each and a small serving counter. The permit also clearly specifies that cooking of food is strictly prohibited and that noise levels cannot surpass those established in the approved noise report.
When evaluating this planning application and the submissions presented by the objectors, the DCC concluded, that given the nature and size, this change of use was going to have a low impact on the neighbourhood. This decision was in fact confirmed by the Planning Appeals Board on November 17. To further safeguard the interests of the residents in the neighbourhood, the Appeals Board added another permit condition that “No outdoor tables and chairs are permitted”.
It is also pertinent to note that the North Harbours Local Plan was not conceived in a pristine environment or in a context of a virgin undeveloped territory. Its inception found an environment already committed by development and a set development potential framework.
During the years prior to the approval of the local plan, many development-oriented actions and decisions were taken which cannot simply be ignored or overlooked.
The authority has and will continue to show its commitment to ensure that designated residential areas are protected and the quality of life for all residents improved. To date, Mepa, through its Urban Improvement Fund, has successfully invested €7 million in over 180 projects in urban areas. On its part, the Mepa board has been bold in taking a number of landmark decisions that not only protect the environment but also the character of our localities.