An application to widen Tal-Balal Road has been recommended for approval, but the decision will be of little relevance as works on the project, started in August, are now at an advanced stage.
However, State agency Infrastructure Malta, which is spearheading the project, has been fined €42,454.2 on the grounds that when it submitted the application it had not stated that it wanted the “sanctioning” of works. The term is used in cases where an applicant wants to regularise illegal developments.
Costing €4 million, the project aims to increase a lane on either side of the arterial thoroughfare, between San Ġwann and Naxxar, to alleviate traffic towards Mater Dei Hospital and the University of Malta.
The development will result in the loss of 8,200 square metres of agricultural land outside the development zone.
Controversy had erupted when this newspaper revealed that works had started without a development permit.
Subsequently, it also transpired that heavy vehicles entered private land and started excavation work without the owners having been notified that their property had been expropriated.
Faced by criticism that it was acting with impunity and showing disdain for planning rules, the government justified its conduct saying it wanted to complete the project before the start of the academic year, which brings about an increase in traffic. Yet, this deadline has been missed and the project is now set for completion next month.
Meanwhile, the processing of the planning application to sanction the project is forging ahead with the Planning Authority’s case officer recommending the application for approval.
His report lists the interventions carried out without a permit, varying from the removal of boundary walls, excavation of soil, uprooting and transplanting of trees and the removal of crash barriers in the middle of the road. Moreover, Enemalta had started replacing street lighting poles.
However, the case officer is of the opinion that the sanctioning of this development should be favoured in view of the “problematic traffic congestion at this site”. On the other hand he points out that a sanctioning fine of €42,454.2 was applied.
From an environmental perspective, the case officer remarks that in order to limit the loss of virgin land, there are recommendations to limit the footpath, cycle lane and road widths to a minimum.
Furthermore, a noise survey is to be carried out upon completion of the project to assess the level of disturbance with particular attention to St Michael’s School, which is close to Tal-Balal Road.
Apart from a handful of objectors whose property had been expropriated and the Church Commission, criticism had also been levelled from the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, denouncing the unauthorised works.
In this respect, the case officer pointed out that a Grade 2 scheduled arch and a rubble wall lie within the footprint of the project while an agricultural room had to be dismantled and rebuilt, albeit with a different configuration in line with a method statement submitted to the PA.