Qui-si-sana residents fear area may become ‘new Paceville’

In a joint statement, the Qui-si-sana and Tignè Residents Association and the Sliema Residents Association said that while they view the new Qui-si-sana garden as a positive move and an end to years of official neglect of the area, “the new garden will naturally increase traffic and pedestrian flow in the area, leading to an increase in pressure for catering/entertainment facilities.”

They stressed that in theory, this is forbidden by policy NHH01 of the North Harbour Local Plan, which is designed to protect residential areas from such facilities. The only exception is Paceville, which is designated in the Plan as an entertainment area.

“The whole of the Tigne peninsula has been cut off from the rest of Sliema in planning terms, with MEPA allowing rampant over-development. Having been foiled in its attempt to push through the infamous Qui-si-sana Development Brief, MEPA is doing its utmost to circumvent the planning laws to achieve its aim in turning Qui-si-sana into a commercial area. In the case of application no. 1943/07, MEPA has benevolently interpreted the North Harbour Local Plan allowing transposition of a Paceville-specific policy to Qui-si-sana,” the statement said.

The residents added that the opening of this loophole makes a mockery of zoning laws and flouts the Prime Minister’s solemn promise in June 2009 that MEPA would not allow exploitation of any loopholes which violate the spirit of planning policies.

“Moreover the ruling specifically downgrades the status of Qui-si-sana as a residential area and deliberately encourages possibility of further commercial premises in the area. The car might be expensive however the driving remains as bad as ever,” they said.