Gharghur Council won’t appeal if permit is in line with PA policies

The Għargħur Local Council will not appeal the extension of the fireworks factory if permit has been issued according to the Planning Authority (PA) policies, mayor Giljan Aquilina told The Malta Independent.

Yesterday this newspaper published a story saying that no Għargħur local councillor on Monday raised objections to the PA’s decision to extend a fireworks factory, but residents’ complaints have pushed the council to agree to seek the advice of an architect.

In 2013, an application was submitted by St Bartholomew Fireworks Factory for an extension to its premises in Wied id-Dies, a valley located between Madliena and Għargħur. It is one of the few unspoilt valleys in the area, enjoyed by many and proposed for scheduling as a level 2 and level 3 Area of Ecological Importance.

At the time there were a number of objections to the application including those from the Department of Agriculture, the Environment Protection Directorate, the Natural Heritage Advisory Committee and the Għargħur Local Council. The case officer had also been against the proposed extension and the matter died out, with residents thinking that that was the end of that.

But four years later things changed. The permit for the extension was issued on the 1 June 2017, two days before the general election. It is understood that the project became viable after recent changes to planning policy.

The Għargħur mayor said that this whole issue was overblown because the application was submitted four years ago.

Contacted by this newsroom, Aquilina said that the local council is in favour of the extension and that the place will be upgraded to be according to the health and safety standards. He added that he, together with the council members met the architect yesterday to make sure that everything was done according to standards. “What the architect does is analyse the permit from a technical perspective and if it is established that the permit is issued according to the PA policies the council has no intention to appeal or object.”

Aquilina said that, “I am informed that the fireworks factory committee was in constant communication with the PA board so that the necessary adjustments in the application will be held for the permit to be issued.” He added that once the architect issues his report the council will send it to those who wrote to them and showed their concern.

Aquilina, speaking about a conflict of interest he has - his uncle is involved with the group that put forward the application - said, “I checked with the director of local councils to inform him about how to proceed since I have a small conflict of interest. My uncle is representing the fireworks factory. It’s not a financial conflict, but the director told me not to chair that section of the meeting. I told the secretary that if there are any points or objections raised by the councillors a vote should take place.”

Apart from concerns that a fireworks factory explosion could damage nearby buildings, residents of Għargħur, Swieqi and Madliena have also said that they fear that a powerful blast could knock down the historic Wied idDis bridge (pictured).

The Malta Independent has asked the Environment and Resources Authority regarding the residents’ objections, with the authority replying that it is “assessing this case and a decision will be taken in due course.”