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James Debono
Some people would not part their native town even after their death. And their stubbornness defies the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s policy to centralise burials at the Addolorata cemetery to avoid the proliferation of graves throughout the island.
Only last Tuesday MEPA approved an extension to the Addolarata cemetery with the aim of avoiding the need for more local cemeteries.
Seven years after presenting his application for a 1,302-grave cemetery, Rev Anthony Mallia Borg is still lobbying to have a local cemetery approved despite two previous MEPA decisions, decrying the development as a violation of the Structure Plan and the Police Code.
The land earmarked for tombs lies at the picturesque rural area of ta’ Raddiena in the limits of San Gwann on the border with Birkirkara. The San Gwann council is still objecting to the despoliation of its territory for the sake of another town’s death.
The land, known for its scenic beauty, is owned by the Church and is presently administrated by the joint office. The proposed development consists of 1,302 graves, car park, chapel, mortuary, tools room and flower shop.
The elderly reverend is not alone in his bid for a cemetery. “Like many other towns and villages in Malta, Birkirkara deserves its own cemetery,” says town mayor Michael Fenech Adami, who is “personally” supporting the Birkirkara parish’s bid to develop a full blown cemetery on a rural conservation area where no such development is permitted by the Structure Plan.
Church organisations in Birkirkara have lobbied for the development of a new cemetery set in a rural conservation area. They have even collected a 20,000 strong petition supporting their case.
“Until some years ago Karkarizi were still buried in the church’s crypt,” Michael Fenech Adami laments. On Wednesday, he joined a coterie of priests attending an inconclusive Planning Appeals Board meeting where a decision was expected on a cemetery application dating back to 1999.
Fr Anthony Mallia Borg, assisted by lawyer Mark Fenech in last Wednesday’s sitting, has not lost heart after having his application turned down twice by MEPA and has requested the general services board within the Ministry for Health to exempt them from a law which states that cemeteries should never be less than 183 metres away from residential areas.
“Anyway, the board has already exempted the cemetery near the mosque from this rule. We expect the same treatment,” observes Michael Fenech Adami. He also points out that the cemetery will be less than 183 metres from the nearest building and not from the nearest residential area.
The Planning Appeals Board is refusing to take any decision before the general services board pronounces itself on Fr Mallia Borg’s request to have the development exempted from the law.
Although many Karkarizi support the church’s bid for a cemetery, those who would be living next to it are furious.
“Considering that the entrance to the cemetery is opposite our dwellings, we will hold the respective authorities responsible for the emotional stress which may be caused to our children,” reads one of the objections sent by these residents to MEPA.
According to MEPA, the distance between the proposed site boundary and the adjacent residential buildings, towards the west, is less than 5 metres along Triq Hal-Gharghur, and is less than 15 metres from the other small settlement towards the north-east. The proposal also lies within the 183 metres radius from the urban settlement of Birkirkara.
The San Gwann local council had also objected to “such rampant despoliation of the rural landscape.” It pointed out that the development would necessitate the removal of 50 carob trees.
MEPA had given 12 reasons for turning down the development.
MEPA declared that the proposed cemetery would be in breach of the Code of Police Laws which states that no cemetery shall be constructed at a distance less than 183 metres from any house intended for habitation.
Another reason given by MEPA is that a cemetery cannot be developed in a rural conservation area as the Structure Plan clearly states that no form of urban development will be permitted in such areas.
According to MEPA the proposed development would also have a major impact on the environment, including loss of habitat, loss in biodiversity loss in landscape and disturbance to the surrounding environments.
The architects representing the developers argue that the development of a cemetery “may by no stretch of the imagination be described as urban development in view of the fact that the area in question will remain open land as a result of the planned development.”
They also argue that no buildings are envisaged in the said development and most of it will remain open and undeveloped.
A decision on the fate of Birkirkara’s cemetery is expected in the next planning appeals board meeting set for October.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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