Petition calls on MEPA to reconsider permit for kiosk on public belvedere

A 140 strong petition is calling on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to reconsider a permit issued for a private kiosk on the public belvedere overlooking the square at Bugibba and the offshore fountain and the panoramic view of the bay.

The signatories argue that the permit reverses the decision taken by the Labour government in 1997 to move to less intrusive locations kiosks hindering pedestrian access along the promenade.

The kiosk in question was one of the kiosks relocated to an area next to the water park in 1997.

The local plan specifically states that “no additional kiosks” should be allowed on the promenade and the shoreline and places “a moratorium on any additional structures whether for kiosks and associated tables and chairs.”

They also contend that the approval of the kiosk on the belvedere goes against the present policy guidelines which state that kiosks should be 500 metres away from other kiosks.

Only this week an application for another kiosk on the Bugibba promenade was withdrawn after the Planning Directorate recommended a refusal as the development was deemed to be in breach of these local plan policies.

The case officer report for this application clearly states that according to the policies “no new kiosks shall be permitted along the promenade and foreshore in Bugibba”.

Sources in MEPA accounted the discrepancy between the two decisions to the fact that while the more recent case involved an entirely new kiosk, the kiosk approved on the belvedere was relocated from a nearby location.

On their part the petitioners also raised questions regarding what will happen to the platform near the water park, “freed” by the removal of the present kiosk.

“Will it be awarded to third parties thus violating the local plan again?” they asked.

The planning application to relocate the kiosk to the belvedere was submitted in September 2013 after the government requested the relocation of a kiosk owned by the same owner in the vicinity of the water park.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority issued the permit for the 18-square metre new permanent kiosk last month.

The main reason given by the case officer for recommending the approval of the new kiosk was that the Government Property Division had identified the site in question.

The new kiosk will also include an area for chairs and tables covered by a glass roof.

The present policy guidelines on kiosks state that kiosks should be at least 500 metres from existing kiosks. This minimum distance was not respected in this case.

But the case officer argued that this policy does not apply to this case because the kiosk is being relocated from another place.

The owner had to sign a bank guarantee to ensure that the existing kiosk is removed before the new kiosk is opened.

The proposed kiosk makes extensive use of glass to limit its negative impact on sea views. The planning gains proposed by the MEPA include the introduction of three benches for the public and three refuse bins. No cooking will be allowed in the new kiosk.