Civil Aviation objects to Luqa Lidl playing field

The supermarket itself was approved by MEPA in 2007, against the advice of both the Civil Aviation Directorate and the Malta International Airport, which both had objected because of the proximity of the development to the runway.

The Civil Aviation Directorate has written to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to object about the development application for a playing field and the installation of shading canopies in the Lidl supermarket’s car park in Luqa.

The supermarket itself was approved by MEPA in 2007, against the advice of both the Civil Aviation Directorate and the Malta International Airport, which both had objected because of the proximity of the development to the runway.

In its letter against the planned playing field, the Directorate recalled that it had “strongly objected” to the development of the supermarket in 2007 and pointed out it is objecting to the latest application “for the same reasons”.

Signs in the car park erected after the permit was issued, still advise the general public that the site is located “within the direct path of low-flying aircraft” and therefore exposed to health and safety risks… “particularly in the event of an aircraft accident”.

Legal Notice 80 of 2004 provides that when low-flying aircraft, at or near an aerodrome, are likely to be hazardous to people or vehicular traffic, the aerodrome operator is obliged to post hazard warning notices on any public way that is adjacent to the manoeuvring area. 

A report by former MEPA auditor Joe Falzon confirmed that the permit for the supermarket was approved by MEPA despite the objections filed by the Civil Aviation authorities and the Malta International Airport, because the supermarket was located within 250m of runway 24, and its height was 2.5m higher than the runway approach protection surface.

The permit was even approved despite a previous refusal for a car hire firm to build a garage, because the site is within the public safety zone on the approach to runway 24.