A decision to refuse permission for the construction of a shooting range and an academy close to the iconic Ħal Xluq chapel, on the outskirts of Siġġiewi has been confirmed by the Planning Appeals Tribunal.
Submitted in 2015, the proposed development had a footprint of 4,300 square metres on a tract of land outside the development zone. The application, which also included a request to sanction various illegal onsite structures, was filed by Louis Farrugia and the architect was former minister Jesmond Mugliett.
The area earmarked for the project was less than 100 metres away from St Mary’s chapel in the village of Ħal Xluq, which dates back to medieval times.
Moreover, the site lies just 500 metres away from the Police Academy in Ta’ Kandja, which in turn is also being developed into an international shooting facility that will be hosting a World Cup event later this year.
The proposal for the Ħal Xluq complex, which had been submitted two years before the Ta’ Kandja project, prompted various objections from the local council, but also from the Siġġiewi parish, NGOs as well as nearby residents.
Apart from the noise pollution generated by such activity, the objectors cited the adverse impact on the nearby chapel, the loss of agricultural land as well as safety concerns.
It lies just 500 metres from the Police Academy
In September 2016, the Planning Authority refused to grant a permit, in line with the recommendation of the case officer.
The latter had remarked that Sportmalta had not given a favourable recommendation, as the applicant was not even a registered member in the National Shooting Federation.
From a planning perspective, the case officer pointed out that the request for sanctioning did not cover all illegal structures. Furthermore, the ODZ location of the site and the proposal to use tyres around the perimeter of the site were cited among the reasons for the refusal.
However, the applicant challenged the decision.
In his appeal he noted that he was willing to drop the proposal to construct an adjoining shooting range, saying his focus would be more on lecturing, the art of maintaining firearms and other activities not requiring the operation of firearms.
For this reason no perimeter wall with tyres would be needed.
Moreover, it was noted that the only thing which that the sanctioning request did not include was limestone paving. As for the applicant’s status, the appeal stated that Mr Farrugia was a qualified range officer registered with the Armed Forces.
However, the Planning Appeals Tribunal last Thursday upheld the original decision not to grant a permit.
The refusal was welcomed by the Siġġiewi local council, which said the development would have ruined the rural and historical heritage of the area.
Mayor Alessia Psaila Zammit also noted that the local council had recently resurfaced the road leading to the chapel through EU funds.
The historic chapel is also renowned for the celebrations held each year to mark the feast of St Mary, in typical Maltese tradition. In December, the chapel is also used by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Siġġiewi as a venue for an art exhibition.