MIDI wants private beach at Tigné Point

MIDI plc, the consortium behind Tigné Point, has applied for private beach facilities on 896 square metres of land on the southern Tigné shoreline below the existing pool and restaurants area overlooking Marsamxett harbour.

According to MIDI CEO Luke Coppini, the application does not impinge on the first five metres of foreshore, which he claims will remain accessible to the public. 

“Should the development take place, MIDI will be carrying out a rehabilitation of the area, including the installation of a lift or ramps in line with National Commission for Disabled Persons (KNDP) regulations”.

Coppini claims the facilities being proposed are meant to enhance accessibility to the area in question because at present people can only access it from a “very dangerous concrete staircase”. 

“The area on the south shore where we are proposing the lido has no safe access thereto and certainly no access which is in accordance with KNDP regulations. The proposed application intends to rehabilitate the surrounding area, making it more accessible”.  

MIDI already has a development permit for a beach facility on the north shore of Tigné Point and for developing a diving and sailing club on the south shore.  

“The application for beach facilities on the south shore is intended to explore the possibility of shifting the lido concession from the north shore to the south shore,” Coppini told MaltaToday.

In September 2014 the Planning Authority, after objections by the Sliema local council, turned down two applications for beach concessions in Sliema, one at Ghar id-Dud presented by the Preluna and another in Qui-Si-Sana presented by developer Michael Stivala. The PA is currently considering another application to upgrade the existing Plevna lido in Qui-Si-Sana over “a smaller footprint.”

During a recent meeting the Sliema Local Council unanimously agreed that public access should be guaranteed at Tigné, in line with Parliament’s recent approval of a Public Domain Act. Sliema local councillors also unanimously agreed that any possible contractual shortcomings by MIDI should be investigated. MIDI has recently granted limited access to the Manoel Island foreshore following protests by Kamp Emergenza Ambjent and the Gzira local council.