PN councillor’s proposal for underground Marsascala carpark does not find Mayor’s support

The car park should be constructed somewhere in the core of the village

Marsascala PN councilor Charlot Cassar has urged the authorities to “hit two birds with one stone” and build a much-needed carpark beneath a planned new football pitch. His plans, however, are not backed by town mayor Mario Calleja, who says the carpark would “solve nothing at all.”

Mr Cassar, who is also a member of Front Ħarsien ODZ, had also proposed a shuttle service, from the carpark, powered with electricity generated by the recycling plant. “Marsascala has a great need to create space for parking outside the heart of the neighbourhood,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Contacted for a reaction, Mayor Calleja said that he agreed that the locality needed a carpark, but “definitely not as suggested by Councillor Cassar beneath the football ground at the family park area.”

“This will solve nothing at all,” he explained. “The car park should be constructed somewhere in the core of the village.” He admitted, however, that, “so far, a suitable place has not yet been traced”

Speaking to The Malta Independent, a spokesperson for Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said that “in principle [the ministry] supports such initiatives for the provision of off-street parking” but maintained that this was “a project being managed by the Marsascala Local Council.”

“The council may wish to consider the creation of an underground car park within the parameters of approved and viable construction methods and within the parameters of planning legislation and policies.”

On the proposed shuttle service, the spokesperson said that additional services such as these would need to be “assessed holistically taking into account operational costs, service management, sources of funding and the necessary project evaluations and impact assessments.”

The planning application will see the construction of a new football pitch and ancillary club facilities at the Sant Antnin Family Park. The premises will include a club shop, a restaurant and kitchen, a clinic, dressing rooms, a reservoir, a store and sanitary facilities. The entire project will cover a footprint area of approximately 6,000sqm.

“In recent years, there has been a general thrust by the Malta Football Association to encourage local football clubs to have or upgrade their existing facilities,” a Planning Authority statement said. “Although the Marsascala football team was set up six years ago, to date it still does not have its own training facilities.”

The Commission also granted planning permission for a large stretch of unused land located between Żabbar and Fgura, along Triq il-Kunsill talEwropa, to be turned into a recreational park. Works will include the formation of walkways, picnic areas, play areas and a one storey building. The one storey building will replace another building and will include a kiosk, a park attendant room and sanitary facilities. All existing trees will be retained.

“The park is intended to conserve the vegetation and ecosystem within the area but also provide a formal recreational space for residents living in the neighbouring localities.”