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Julian Manduca
The chairman of The Malta Playing Fields Association, Anthony Bonello has told MaltaToday his association had nothing to do with the controversial proposal to build 240 garages in Birkirkara.
In November 2004 the Secretary General of the MPFA filed an application with MEPA to re-construct a football ground, playing field and build underlying garages, but Bonello insisted that his association had nothing to do with the garages. The plans have met stiff opposition from both the Birkirkara Local Council and Alternattiva Demokratika.
A man closely linked to the Priceclub group is believed to be behind the proposed 240 garages, but Bonello would neither deny nor confirm that the man was behind the plans.
“We have agreed with the developer not to mention his name until the permit is granted,” Bonello told MaltaToday. Asked whether he felt his association was abdicating its responsibilities by not being transparent about the project, Bonello insisted that his association had “nothing to do with the garages.”
The site chosen for the garages and playing field is currently a playground and is situated between Triq il-Melatella, Triq Ganni Borg, Triq Ignazio Saverio Mifsud and Triq tas-Salib. Bonello told MaltaToday that the developer had promised “a fantastic playing field.”
The proposed development consists of the construction of 240 garages on four storeys beneath the existing playing field. A number of the garages are also proposed above ground level. This will mean the five-a-side football pitch which is part of the playing field will be raised above the ground floor garages. At current prices the garages could provide revenue to the developer of about Lm1.5 mllion.
Alternattiva Demokratika has backed the Birkirkara Local Council’s stand against the plans and its council member Mario Mallia this week said: “The proposed development is another blatant example of public land used for speculative purposes. We cannot understand why the Playing Fields Association is involved in such a proposal with the help of a well-known contractor. This proposal will not improve the quality of life of residents and children in Birkirkara.”
Mallia said the development would create further congestion in the area: “The open space characteristic of the existing playing field will unfortunately end. At present over 90 garages already exist in the area around the playing fields and the proposed development will add a further 240 garages.
“This huge amount of garages will create further havoc in this residential area. Having over 300 garages will create more traffic around a playing field and the safety issue has to be seriously addressed.
“The development of this playing field will mean the end of one of the last open spaces left in the area. Birkirkara is Malta’s largest town and we can never endorse the destruction of an open space which servers as a recreational area and is also a lung for such a densely populated area. “Another negative impact will be the removal of a number of mature trees which are a lung in the excessively jam-packed Birkirkara area.”
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