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James Debono
Less than a week after MaltaToday revealed the plans for the proposed Chalet development by C&F Building Contractors, the Malta Environment Planning Authority’s directorate has recommended the refusal of the controversial plan.
The directorate ruled the proposed excavation of the Sliema promenade would compromise the structural stability of the Ghar id-Dud cave and may lead to its collapse.
The final decision by MEPA will be taken shortly by the Development Control Commission. But prospects for approval are dim.
Both the directorate and a spokesperson for Environment Minister George Pullicino said a refusal should be issued for the proposal, since it did not satisfy the requirements of the December 2000 development brief.
The Chalet project in fact proposed the construction of a 212-space underground park, exceeding the 2000 brief’s maximum of 180 spaces.
The proposed Chalet was described by Sliema residents as resembling a spacecraft with its futuristic design towering over the dangerous quay that is left today of the once majestic dancehall.
The proposal in fact runs contrary to the brief because it exceeds the 3.3 metres limit above the promenade, with a height ranging between 4.8 and 7 metres above the promenade.
The original promoter of the Chalet car park, is also giving his thumbs down to the project which includes the development of a restaurant, a piano bar and also a jazz club.
Joe Preca, chief executive of the overlooking Preluna Hotel had applied on behalf of the Preluna Hotel to develop a car park in 1998: “our only interest at that time was to alleviate the parking problem, nothing less no more. We had no interest in speculative development accompanying the car park and our proposal was limited to a one-storey car park which would not have had a marked impact on the underlying caves.”
Preca was not even interested in the development of the derelict Chalet structure, which today lies out of bounds to the public because of its perilous structure: “demolishing the dangerous structure would have made more sense.”
In 2002, C&F presented its first application for the reconstruction of the Chalet, but this conflicted with the development brief as it proposed a two-storey car park catering for 280 cars.
In three years no progress was made. In May 2005 new plans were presented which still conflicted with the development brief, prompting a recommendation for refusal from the MEPA directorate.
Joe Preca contends that three precious years have been lost resulting in the further deterioration of the Ghar id-Dud promenade. “The Ghar id-Dud promenade lies in shambles, an embarrassment for the tourism industry and an insult to visitors and locals alike.”
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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