Residents And Activists Express ‘Disgust’ Over New 11-Storey Sliema Hotel Proposal In Residential Area
Moviment Graffitti, together with local residents, NGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar and other organisations, held a demonstration in Sliema to express their “disgust” at a proposed 11-storey hotel within a residential zone in Sliema, recommended for approval by the Planning Authority.
“We echo the residents’ anger in noting that the case officer that is recommending the project for approval acknowledges that a tourist establishment is not accepted by policy within the zone, but states that since there are other tourism establishments in the vicinity, this proposed project can be deemed acceptable,” activists said. “However, the buildings in the immediate vicinity all around the site’s perimeter and the block within which it is situated are indeed solely residential.”
The proposal, from developer and head of the Malta Developers Association Michael Stivala, would tower over the historic gardens of Villa Bonici, the last remaining green lung in Sliema, and be a cause of added congestion and noise pollution in an already overburdened residential area.
Residents in particular voiced their concern over the way in which the developer operated in his previous ventures across Sliema and Gżira, with “total impunity, arrogance, and disregard for residents”.
“Stivala’s presence on Parisio Street so far has already been mired in illegal and irregular works, which saw him bulldozing decades-old trees and an old stone well, tearing down part of a vernacular farmhouse, as well as jeopardising the integrity of the Villa Bonici garden walls in order to run the plot as a private car park, works which he then applied to have partially sanctioned, with no repercussions,” Graffitti said.
It asked whether the PA truly seeks to act “on behalf of the community to provide a balanced and sustainable environment”, as per their mission statement, with their “bending of policies and weak to non-existent enforcement”.
“We also ask when the PA will take heed of the recently published fact that we do not expect to have enough demand for the number of hotels already in operation, and therefore approving more such projects is illogical.”
The press conference was attended by residents, with the participation of Moviment Graffitti, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Grow 10 Trees, Din l-Art Ħelwa, S-Cubed, Friends of the Earth, and BirdLife Malta.
The Planning Commission meeting deciding on this development proposal will be held on Tuesday 22nd November at 11:30.
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