PN MP Joins Labour MEP With Petition Against Birkirkara Hotel Opposite Santa Liena Church
PN MP Justin Schembri has launched his own parliamentary petition against the proposed hotel directly opposite the Santa Liena parish church in Birkirkara.
This comes after Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer launched a petition against the development, garnering over 2,000 signatures in just under a week.
Apart from the general public’s strong opposition against a four-storey hotel, a number of other MPs are also already opposing, including Randolph De Battista, Adrian Delia, and Edward Zammit Lewis.
Since launching the parliamentary petition, which closes on 15th October, Schembri has received just under 200 signatures.
“It is the opinion, of the undersigned, that the planning application for a Class 3B Hotel in the heart of Birkirkara threatens the local traditional environment of the locality, and subsequently endangers the Basilika which goes back to 1727 situated close by,” the petition reads.
“The form, scope and level of this project should be limited to the restoration of the Palazzo.”
The proposal, which was filed by Emanuel and Thomas Mifsud of E&TM Company Ltd, is set to replace the palazzo and its gardens, with a 38-room hotel.
The gardens are also said to contain trees from the 17th century.
The old palazzo is located just opposite the parish church, along Triq Santu Rokku and Triq Mike Pulis in the heart of Birkirkara.
As it stands, the proposed building – situated in the palazzo’s neighbouring back plot – would include two basement floor levels (with a restaurant on the first basement floor) along with 28 rooms spread across the four floors.
As for the restored palazzo, this building would house the remaining 10 suites and underground cistern spa, according to the applicants.
Well over 300 representations have been filed against the development, on top of the signatures registered for the different petitions. The representations period is open until 22nd September.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Robert Abela recently took a strong stance agains local developers who file planning applications knowing they are in breach of policies which aim to protect Malta’s environment.
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