Pedestrians get 2 metre walkway in new Gzira lido plans

New design plans for a proposed lido on the Gzira strand opposite Manoel Island, including reclaimed land, will enable pedestrians to walk by the sea, after a two-metre passage was introduced at the edge which will serve as a pedestrian walkway.

Presently pedestrians can stroll freely enjoying unobstructed sea views along the wide uninterrupted promenade linking Sliema and Gzira. 

But if the project is approved by MEPA at its board meeting on Thursday, walking directly along the seashore on this part of the Gzira coast will only be possible along the new, two-metre wide passageway which will be wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

The new development, consisting of two triangular shaped restaurants each on a 160-square metre footprint, and a private swimming pool, will be constructed on 2,300 square metres of land reclaimed from the sea.

The walkway, part of which will be cantilevered over the sea, was only introduced to address concerns expressed by the Environment Protection Directorate. The passage will also serve as an access to fishermen and boatowners.  

It has been added to ensure that the facility will conform to the Structure Plan, which lays down that the foreshore should be fully accessible to the public.

The project consists in the construction of the pool and the two 160 square metre restaurants on land reclaimed from the sea on the Gzira seafront. It also includes showers and changing rooms. The structures will have a maximum height of 4.8 metres.

A play area and an exhibition hall will be open to the public.

The private swimming pool will serve as an amenity for the Bay View, Kennedy Nova, the Strand and Waterfront Hotels. 

A study by Transport Malta concluded that as a result of the project the time allowed for green traffic lights should be extended from 15 to 21 seconds.

The project will require 14 new parking spaces for employees and 32 new spaces for restaurant patrons. None of these parking spaces are catered for in the project. 

The case officer report concludes that the project will result in a  shortfall of 14 parking spaces in an area which is already suffering from parking space shortage. 

But Transport Malta did not object to the project in a letter sent to MEPA in January last year.

The stony coral growing along the site will be relocated to another area in Sliema.

Initially the Planning Directorate had expressed concern on the size of the two restaurants in view of the fact that the hotels in the area all have bars and restaurants.

But now the Planning Directorate is calling on the MEPA board to approve the project, noting that the design of the two triangular restaurants has been improved to respect “the openness of the existing promenade and protecting views of Valletta”. The restaurants are being justified as a way to ensure that the project is economically feasible.

The project, which will provide facilities for a number of Sliema hotels, has been proposed by entrepreneur Michael Stivala, secretary general of the Malta Developers Association.