The Planning Authority has signed an agreement with the local councils of Swieqi, Birkirkara and Xaghra (Gozo) to fund €631,000 worth of projects in their respective localities.
The projects fall under the Authority’s Urban Improvement Funt, and include major upgrading works in Birkirkara valley area, the embellishment of FX Ebejer Garden in Swieqi and paving works around the Chapel of St Anthony the Abbot in Xaghra Gozo.
During the press conference, executive chairman of the Planning Authority (PA) Johann Buttigieg, Parliamentary Secretary for planning Deborah Schembri, Swieqi Mayor Noel Muscat and PA Board Chairman Vince Cassar signed the agreement for upcoming embellishment works.
The PA also presented the mayors’ of Swieqi, Mellieha and Mqabba local council with the money for recently completed projects, such as upgrading works and access for all facilities at a public garden and tennis court in Triq Il-Hemel, Swieqi, the upgrading of a playing field in Mqabba and the installation of new energy saving street lighting in a number of streets in Mellieha. The total cost of the works amounted to over €233,000.
While the Mayors were accepting the cheques, Swieqi Mayor Noel Muscat pleaded with PA Board Chairman Vince Cassar for the authority to help strike a balance between development approvals and retaining the little open space there is left.
“Swieqi is under siege by development, there is barely any open space left so please help us,” he said.
Addressing the conference, Dr Schembri revealed that this coming January, the government will be increasing the criteria for the availability of Urban Improvement Funds, allowing more localities to have the possibility of tapping into these funds.
Turning back to the projects that are proposed for Birkirkara, Swieqi and Xghara, they will include:
Extensive embellishment works in Birkirkara along Triq il-Qasab and Sqaq il-Wied resulting in new street furniture, footpaths, decorative railings, street lighting and upgrading of an existing garden.
In Xaghra the UIF project will include the installation of travertine steps and architectural external lighting along the chapel’s pavis and repaving works along the alley leading up to the same Chapel.
The Chapel of St Anthony the Abbott is one of the oldest chapels in Gozo and served as the first parish church of Xaghra up until 1962.
FX Ebejer Garden, Swieqi, being a popular public garden enjoyed by residents living in the area will undergo extensive embellishment works. The works include the installation of a timber gazebo, child sensory play equipment, landscaping, entrance gates and new lighting.
Over the past year, the PA has signed agreements with 13 different local councils for projects that are estimated to cost over €1.2 million. The funds for these projects originate from the Urban Improvement Fund, administered by the PA. The accumulated money in this fund originate from the fee the PA imposes on developers, where projects cannot fully cater for parking provisions as required by planning law.