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James Debono
The Sliema council decided they had no objection to developers’ latest plans for the contentious Qui-Si-Sana car park as “long as they conform to the development brief.”
The decision was taken after the council meeting was suspended for five minutes, in which the Nationalist councillors convened in private to take a common stand on the Qui-Si-Sana development.
The two Labour councillors and the Alternattiva Demokratika councillor opposed the motion.
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority gave the Sliema council 30 days to give its comments on the latest plans submitted by the developer. AD councillor Michael Briguglio immediately called on the council to oppose the latest plans.
The plans include a 24-lane bowling alley, a theatre, an exhibition centre, an open air restaurant and bar, a childcare centre, an exchange bureau, health spa and gym, juice bar, cafeteria, newsagent, a sandwich bar and other unspecified retail areas attached to a car park.
Sliema mayor Albert Bonello Dupuis called for a five-minute suspension of the meeting, during which the Nationalist councillors reunited in another room.
Upon their return the mayor proposed that the council should not oppose the plans as long as they conform to the development brief.
According to the Development Brief, 7,000 square metres of space was to be allowed for “innovative tourist related/leisure development” which may be coupled with other leisure uses and an element of catering provision.”
No public consultation was ever held on this development brief. The local council had previously approved a motion calling for public consultation on the brief but MEPA had turned down this request.
The only public consultation which has taken place, goes back to 1999 when a draft development brief, which excluded major commercial development, was approved.
In contrast to the 2002 brief, the one discussed in 1999 stated that: “major retail/commercial land uses in Qui-Si-Sana gardens would be inappropriate.”
The PN majority approved the mayor’s proposal, with only Michael Briguglio and Labour councillors Martin Debono and Marianne Aquilina voting against.
Although tensions were high on the Qui-Si-Sana development, the mood in the council was more relaxed and jovial than usual. Councillors were unanimous in supporting a proposal by Anthony Mallia to conduct a study on the creation of an animal clinic in the locality.
In naming the locality’s new library, councillors were also confronted with a choice between two eminent personalities, Margaret Mortimer – a pillar in the Maltese educational establishment – and MaltaToday journalist and environmentalist Julian Manduca, who passed away last year.
While the mayor opted for the headmistress, Michael Briguglio and Martin Debono proposed to name the library for Julian Manduca.
Yet in a show of civility, none of the councillors voted against either of the two names and some even voted for both names. Finally Mortimer’s name was chosen, although Julian’s name was honoured by all Sliema councillors.
jdebono@maltatoday.com.mt
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