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James Debono
Is it a ship? Is it a spacecraft? No, it’s the latest plan submitted by C&F building contractors to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for the new development at the Sliema Chalet, which will replace the once majestic but now derelict and dangerous structure standing above the Ghar il-Lembi cave.
Sliema Labour councillor and architect Martin Debono describes the new structure as “nothing more than a glorified kiosk” but aesthetic considerations apart, the new plans raises a number of questions related to the impact on the underlying caves.
The plans for the Chalet have not been made available to the Sliema Local Council and the general public, although Debono raised the matter during a local council meeting on Wednesday night.
Sliema mayor Albert Bonello Du Puis contends he is not preoccupied by the new plans, saying this is not the first time that plans have been presented and refused.
“Man proposes but only God decides and what is being proposed is not acceptable,” the mayor insists.
The proposed project will eradicate the hope of nostalgic Slimizi that the Chalet will be restored to its old self. Before the war, the place was known for the weekly dances during which prizes were awarded to the best dancers.
In March 1942 the building was hit during an air raid. Repairs were made after the war and the Chalet was re-opened under new management in July 1944.
But since the repairs were not done properly, it did not take long for the damages to surface again. In July 1959, the Chalet was officially declared unsafe and the place was closed. But apart from offending some nostalgics, the new plan could destroy the very caves, which gave a name to the place its name – Ghar id-Dud and Ghar il-Lembi.
Any development on the caves contradicts MEPA’s commitment to safeguard the rocky foreshore.
But Martin Debono contends the proposed development will involve the destruction of a number of caves in the area. “It is a shame that the developers intend to destroy most of the caves when one could incorporate this geological treasure in the overall concept.
A geological evaluation of the cave system at Ghar id-Dud and Ghar il-Lembi had been submitted to MEPA in October 2004. The document shows that the Ghar Lembi cave system extends for 33 metres under the promenade and another cave extends for 36 metres. The same report states that the site earmarked for the car park “can prove to be of international importance,” if the proper studies are conducted. Yet it seems that the fate of the caves under the Chalet had been sealed months ago.
Earlier on this year MaltaToday revealed the contents of an internal email sent in November 2004 from Vince Gauci giving instructions to the Environment Protection Directorate’s to present a report to the MEPA board explaining “why the caves should not be protected.”
In another email, MEPA’s Christopher Borg urged his colleagues to “get moving and prepare a recommendation in favour of the project.”
According to the new plans, the structure replacing the Chalet will rise up to nearly two storeys above the promenade contrary to what was stated in the draft for public consultation for public consultation.
The draft document states that the Chalet site should not be higher than the level of the popular Ghar id-Dud promenade.
This was changed in a development brief published in December 2000, which stated that the development should not be higher than 3.3 metres from the level of the promenade. The proposed structure will be even higher. While MEPA’s 1999 document states the aim of the car park is to “alleviate the parking problem in Sliema,” the development of a pizzeria, a piano bar, a jazz club and a restaurant are bound to generate even more traffic in the area.
Rather than solving Sliema’s parking problems, the new car park will absorb new traffic generated by the new development.
Bonello Du Puis insists that although he agrees with the development of more car parks in Sliema “the Chalet car park should be limited to one storey as outlined in the development brief and not to two storeys as proposed by the developers.”
Another cause of concern is MEPA’s lack of consultation with the Sliema local council. Sliema AD councillor Michael Briguglio told MaltaToday the local council has not been informed on the new plan. “This shows a serious lack of transparency,” Briguglio said.
Councillor Martin Debono would prefer “restoring the Chalet to its former glory by using modern technology.” Alternatively Debono would consider a modern structure which would serve as “a land mark building in line with the up market potential of the area.”
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