The St Paul’s Bay local council is no longer objecting to the construction of a fuel station in Burmarrad on agricultural land outside the development zone.
The change in position was the result of a proposal tabled by Labour councillor Alfred Grima, who called on the council to drop an appeal against the development permit, which was issued last year.
Contacted by Times of Malta, Mr Grima summarised his argument by saying that the new fuel station would mean less toxic emissions in St Paul’s Bay.
“Vehicles wanting to refuel will do so in Burmarrad without needing to enter the village core,” Mr Grima said.
His proposal was approved thanks to the backing of five Labour councillors and an independent representative, while three PN councillors, including mayor Anne Fenech, voted against. Four councillors were absent when the vote was taken.
A split on the matter within the council
Located opposite to the Kiabi complex, the development will consist of a car wash, tyre service station and ATM. Despite fierce objections from the council, NGOs and the Environment Resources Authority, in July 2017 the Planning Authority gave the green light for the development.
Subsequently, both the ERA and the council appealed, with the case still pending before the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal.
Apart from the controversial location on ODZ land, the council based its challenge on the fact that this station lies less than 500 metres away from the closest fuel pump, in breach of the policy at the time.
Furthermore, the council argued that there was no need for such a development, as there were three other stations within close range.
However, within the council there was a split on the matter, with the Labour councillors being against the decision to file an appeal. Subsequently the balance of power within the council changed following the resignation of a number of PN councillors, who stayed on as independent representatives.
In addition, Graziella Galea, who was the mayor of St Paul’s Bay when the appeal was filed, was forced to resign and was replaced by Ms Fenech.
Meanwhile, construction on the fuel station is almost complete, even though appeal proceedings are still under way. However, a planning watchdog spokesman told this newspaper that the works are in line with the parameters of the law, which states that if the permit were to be revoked following an appeal, the developer, in this case Joseph Attard of Construction and Turnkey House Limited, would have to restore the site to its original condition at the company’s expense.
Earlier this year, eyebrows were raised when an “opening soon” sign was erected at the development site.