The application, which was submitted by Emanuel Attard of the Foundation for Medical Services (FMS) in July 2002, only came up for discussion during the MEPA board meeting on Thursday.

It was the applicant himself who told a rather bewildered MEPA board that the construction work had already been finished. This was the 34th application submitted by FMS in connection with the building of the new hospital.

Among the changes approved for Level 12 of the hospital were the introduction of a new service shaft, the enlargement of the plant room and a relocated access core, and the introduction of three staff rooms and other facilities.

The most controversial point, however, was the request not to build a screen wall at the south elevation, which is visible from the Birkirkara bypass and is located between the car park and the main administration block (Block A).

The planning directorate has objected to the non-inclusion of the wall because it is an “essential part of the hospital’s design since it helps break a large expanse of plain masonry on this Block and on block F, which also incorporates the same design of screen wall and sets a symmetry on either side of the main block A”.

Moreover, the directorate said the stone screen on Block E would also have insulating properties on the facade itself in summer, while allowing sunlight in in winter.

In both cases, the screen would be of stone and set out 2.5 metres away from the respective facades with horizontal sleepers.

The directorate added that the screens had always been included ever since the master plan for the hospital was issued.

A long discussion ensued between the board members, those in favour praising the screen’s aesthetic qualities, and those against quoting the expense of having this screen merely for aesthetic reasons.

One board member commented that when an application is submitted by the private sector it is gone through with a fine toothcomb for aesthetic reasons, while in the case of the government “kollox jghaddi”.

At the end, after the applicant reiterated his wish not to build the screen in front of Block E, the board decided, by eight votes to two, to reserve its decision on the matter and approve the remainder of the application.

In any case, several board members said a uniform design must be maintained – if a decision is made to build the screens, they must be built on the facades of both Block E and Block F, and vice-versa.

The MEPA board also approved unanimously a full development application for the construction of the second part of the underground trunk road forming part of the Tigne Point development.

The proposed trunk road – a two-lane road eight metres wide – will provide an uninterrupted link from Tigne’ Sea Front to Qui-Si-Sana Road.

Part of the project will run underneath Garden Battery, an underground structure previously thought to have been destroyed.

The Garden Battery consists of three gun emplacements and two sets of interlinking rooms. The rest of the area was cleared by the British Military to construct their barracks.

Both the Manoel Island and Tigne’ Point Development Brief and the Outline Development Permission did not envisage the retention of this structure and included the area in its developable footprint.

According to the construction management plan, one of the gun emplacements will be reinforced by beams placed underneath to support its full weight. A reinforced concrete ring will then be constructed around the gun emplacement in order to stabilise it. The rock beneath will then be excavated.

The casemate, which will have to be dismantled to allow for the rock cutting works for the tunnel, will be dismantled by hand and each stone numbered. Once the tunnel structure has been constructed, the casemate will be re-constructed above.

The permit states that the applicant shall notify MEPA, the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage and the Superintendent of Fortifications at least two weeks prior to the commencement of works.

All work will be carried out under the supervision of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.

As to the disposal of the construction waste generated, the permit states that land-based dumping shall take place at the quarry in Lapsi as approved in a previous permit or in any other approved inert waste landfill site. Dumping at sea shall be carried out at the previously approved dumping site.

The MEPA board also approved unanimously a development control application by the Authority itself to eliminate the proposed road widening and three junctions at Triq il-Madliena, Swieqi, as it would mean the destruction of the existing rubble walls.

Until now, the planning scheme layout indicated that Triq il-Madliena (from Triq il-Prekursur to Triq Wied id-Dis) was to be widened up to 12.2 metres. Also, three junctions were planned in this part of Triq il-Madliena.

However the general condition of the rubble walls is very good and they provide a unique and natural setting for the chapel and surrounding area.

Furthermore the roads are wide enough to take two vehicles so the widening of the roads did not justify the demolition of the rubble walls, which were also protected by a legal notice.

The approved layout plan retains the existing road width and the existing rubble stonewalls. Moreover, the width of the first 80 metres to the north of Triq il-Prekursur will be reduced to a minimum of seven metres needed for the safe movement of traffic.

The three proposed junctions will been closed to vehicular traffic but a path will be built for pedestrians to pass through.

This area is predominantly a villa area, which has a low traffic profile. The width of the road is adequate for two vehicles to pass and the approved layout will not affect traffic circulation.

Finally, the MEPA board decided to postpone the approval of an application by the Works Department to construct a junction, including a new road near the Xarolla Windmill, limits of Zurrieq. The case officer said work on the site had already been carried out in spite of an enforcement notice issued.

Apart from the Xarolla Windmill, the area includes a church, a chapel and catacombs.

The Planning Control Commission found the proposed scheme layout (which has already been carried out) acceptable, save for a cul-de-sac on the northern flank of the windmill as this lies in the area of the catacombs.

Since a second application has been filed on this project, the MEPA board decided to consider both applications together at a later date.

Moreover, there is an issue regarding part of the land used for this project, with Alfred Xerri, who is contesting the expropriation of his land by the government in court.