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Lidl controversy as Gozo supermarket set for approval
A case officer report advises MEPA to approve Lidl’s first supermarket in Xewkija, Gozo.
5 April 2012, 12:00am
James Debono
James Debono
2 min read
Following various discussions with Lidl, fresh designs were submitted showing all the structures and parking areas within the limit of development
A case officer report is advising The Malta Environment and Planning Authority to approve Lidl's first supermarket in Gozo, located in St Leonard Street, Xewkija: at the edge of the Xewkija industrial estate.
The development is earmarked on a 4,813m2 large vacant plot of land at the back of an existing petrol station which fronts on Mgarr Road in Xewkija, Gozo.
Environmentalists had objected to the development because 30% of the site (1,075m2) lies outside the development zones.
But the case officer report states that the supermarket and the car park are now entirely located within development zones.
In the original application most of the supermarket's parking area was located outside the limits to development.
In view of this, MEPA informed Lidl that the project was "unacceptable in principle".
But following various discussions with Lidl, fresh designs were submitted showing all the structures and parking areas within the limit of development.
This was deemed acceptable in principle by MEPA.
The supermarket structure will include two overlying levels of parking, with the first floor level catering for 52 parking spaces and the roof of the structure, catering for another 58 car parking spaces.
The remaining area in front and on the side of the supermarket structure - which falls within the development zone boundaries - is to be used as an external parking area providing 24 car parking spaces.
The height of the supermarket structure is set at two floors, with a maximum height of 12 meters.
The site of the proposed supermarket included a number of illegalities consisting of "derelict vehicles and other scrap" and an illegal access road located on private land.
The applicant was informed that unless these illegalities were removed, the application could not be processed with a positive recommendation.
The illegalities were only removed in February 2012, and the enforcement case was closed.
MEPA's policy guidance on retail outlets states that supermarkets should be preferably located in or on the edge of town centres, which is not the case in this application.
Although the policy states that all large supermarkets should be subject to a Retail Impact Assessment. But no such assessment was conducted because the supermarket was deemed not to have a large-scale impact on the Victoria Town Centre.
MEPA has already issued permits for Lidl supermarkets in San Gwann, Santa Venera, Safi, Luqa and Ghaxaq.
The Safi and Luqa supermarkets were located ODZ and MEPA Auditor Joe Falzon deemed the two permits in question irregular.
While processing the application for Gozo's first Lidl supermarket, MEPA received a number of objections from environmental NGOs including Nature Trust, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, The Rambler's Association, 'Flimkien Ghall-Ambjent Ahjar' and 'Din l-Art Helwa'. But MEPA also received four letters from Gozitans urging MEPA to approve the development.
These reminded MEPA of "the hardships that Gozitans have to endure when they regularly have to cross to the mainland to shop at Lidl, knowing of the discounted prices they normally offer."
James Debono is MaltaToday's chief reporter on environment, planning and land use issues, ...
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I hope the case officer reads this - - -
This development should be opposed because it is antisocial on a number of counts
1 ) spaces exist for the construction of a supermarket within the village.
2) this commercial development will take up precious agricultural land in the Xewkija valley
3 ) It will spell the end for more small neighbourhood grocers, butchers, green grocers and corner mini-markets which serve an important function by providing a social focus for people, especially the elderly.
4 ) It will put shopping out of reach of the elderly (or the less well-off with no car) while continuing to eliminate the social focus previously provided by small neighbourhood grocers and shops.
5 ) It will continue the process of undermining village and town life. Village and town centres are becoming progressively emptier of people as neighbourhood shops continue to fall victim to large supermarkets.
6 ) This depersonalizing of villages and towns is robbing urban life of its vibrancy. Many, especially the old, fear going out in deserted streets because they feel unsafe. Social connectivity and community spirit are becoming things of the past.
7 ) Long distances between where people live and where they shop will increase car use - adding to pollution and carbon emissions and further encouraging obesity.
8 ) Distant extra-urban supermarkets totally contradict the principle of “Age friendly design” in a world where older people are not only going to be more numerous, but will also be living longer. What now needs to be taken into consideration is that populations are starting to age and that promoting physical and mental health of the aged will soon assume tremendous economical and health significance.
9 ) The World Health Organization (WHO) is now urging the development of “age friendly cities” so as to encourage active ageing by optimizing security and participation of older people in towns and village life in such a way as to enhance quality of life as populations age. The recommendation is now for a “compact city” in which everything from culture and shopping, medical services, and leisure spaces is within walking distance, enabling everybody to keep active, to keep walking while they are able and to remain engaged in civic life. An out-of-reach (except by car) supermarket no longer has any conceivable advantage whatsoever to offer and only further deprives the less privileged and the old of their nearby grocer, robbing them of their independence.
10 ) Under the circumstances if a permit is granted for such a supermarket, it will simply indicate that MEPA is unaware of current realities, putting money before health and ignoring the social, health and environmental impacts of such developments.
11 ) This pandering to big business - and profit for the few – is being done at the expense of peoples’ well-being. As long as this sort of development continues to be given the go-ahead to accommodate big business, so will the future of our towns and villages, not to mention an aging population, become more bleak.
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@fufa...naqbel perfettament...issa daqshekk ghajruna li nixtru mil-Lidl u ngibuhom lejn Ghawdex. Povri dawk il-hwienet godda li qed jifthu ghax zgur li mhux ser ikkampaw....l
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Il-balena u c-cawla. Hekk se jigrilhom il-mini markets ta ghawdex imsieken. Daqshekk se tkun 'fair' il-kompetizzjoni.
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We are happy to have the Lidl supermarket in Gozo,because here in Gozo we dont have a decent place for shoping,most places don't have parking at all.
Joseph MELI •
Hardships experienced by four Gozitans -obviously these "hardships" are either not shared or more stocically endured by the bulk of Gozitans to "have" to cross to the mainland to shop at Lidl.The inequality and injustice of it all should be brought to the attention of the European Court of Human Rights surely?
