MEPA’s heritage watchdogs say no to firework factories

The Planning Authority's two internal heritage watchdogs have objected to the extension of the Wied id-Dis fireworks factory in Gharghur and to the construction of a new factory in Ghaxaq.

In a meeting held last week, MEPA's Natural Heritage Advisory Panel chaired by entomologist David Dandria, "strongly objected" to the application which would result in the "further proliferation of development" along the Wied id-Dis valley in Gharghur.

The application for the extension of the St Bartolomew factory in Wied id-Dis foresees four workshops of 35 metres squared, a 14-square metre workshop for packing colours, another 14-square metre workshop for mixing round, coloured 'stars', a 21-square metre flash powder mixing room, a 20-square metre shed for a drying area and another store of 18 metres squared.

Two men had escaped unscathed from inside Gharghur's St Bartholomew fireworks factory when an explosion blasted part of the factory, back in 2010.

Another of MEPA's heritage watchdogs, the Cultural Heritage Advisory Panel chaired by Albert Ganado, also objected to the construction of a brand new factory on agricultural land at il-Hbula, in Ghaxaq. Enemalta is also objecting to this application as the proposed factory is very near to its 33kV overhead infrastructure.

The development abuts farmland that is being worked by both part-time and full-time farmers and lies in proximity to the Gudja cemetery, a number of greenhouses and neighbouring businesses.

Over the past years MEPA has refused a number of outside-development zone (ODZ) firework factory applications in Mellieha, Rabat and Gozo. But MEPA is presently revising its policies on firework factories after the government appointed a committee, chaired by pyrotechnics lobby lawyer and Labour MP Michael Falzon.