The semi-finished outdoor area in St Julian’s has been left to gather dust after works on it had stopped due to the number of concerns raised by locals and the local council.

Last month, St Julian’s mayor Albert Buttigieg, together with Mario Fava, the president of the Local Councils Association, had addressed a press conference to express their concern about the outdoor platform built by Nola Café in Main Street, St Julian’s.

Buttigieg had pointed out that this area is taking up five parking spaces – two of which are for persons with disabilities. Additionally, there was no permit given by the Lands Authority, only the Planning Authority (PA) had given it the go-ahead.

Since then works on the platform have stopped but its skeleton remains there a month later.

“Apart from being an eyesore, it is a danger zone as it is half done and it is also causing a traffic problem as the road was already narrow and now it is even narrower as people are still parking in front of it,” St Julian’s Mayor Albert Buttigieg told The Malta Independent.

“We are supporting the motion of the extension being removed. We feel that it is very unjust that someone occupied the space of five parking without a permit and is now taking his time to get the regulations required while others, especially the elderly, are struggling to find parking,” he explained.

Owner of Nole Café Cleaven Cassar refused to give out any information to this newsroom on any progress on this situation but he pointed out that Buttigieg’s claim that two of the parking spots are disabled parking is untrue. He also added that it is somewhat unfair that he is being given all the attention when there are so many others who are doing the same thing.

Buttigieg seems to share this sentiment as he explained that, in reality, the council shouldn’t be picking on him.

“This is something that has been going on for years wherein the Planning Authority does not take our opinion into account. We want to have a system in place where the final say is that of the local council, if we are really to be addressed as the ‘local government’. We should have the faculty to make decisions which are in the best interests of the residents.”

“So, we are using this latest example to appeal and get the central government’s attention in order to see a change in policy as it is not doing any good, not just here but in all localities.”

Buttigieg referred to the proposal that Fava had made for a committee to be set up between the Local Council Association, the Planning Authority, Transport Malta, the Lands Authority and the Malta Tourism Authority.

Fava had told The Malta Independent that in this proposal it is also mentioned that all permits of the kind in question should be suspended until such a committee is set up.

“The reason being that there needs to be a masterplan for all zones in each locality. Rather than permits being given on an individual basis, there needs to be a regulatory body and clear parameters where, even if you are investing in a small property, you know that in that zone you cannot have an outdoor space.”

This proposal has since been heard by some of the associations and authorities addressed and despite not being received well, Fava said that it has prompted the prominence of local councils in planning decisions.

When questioned on how the removal of the Planning portfolio from Ian Borg’s Ministry – due to the recent changes in the Cabinet – might influence the proposal for this committee, he explained that this could actually make it more challenging as the Local Councils Association will need the approval of two ministries rather than just one.