From A. Ciantar

Do we really need more apartments with no room to swing a cat in, let alone bring up a family? Viewing some of these apartments is enough to give you claustrophobia. These apartments are being built with single people or at most a couple in mind since it would be suicidal for a young family to reside in what can be called a chicken coop. Are there so many separated, single or childless couples in Malta to justify the recent profileration of these chicken coops?

I live in Iklin, in a road planned for terraced houses and maisonettes. Recently, an application was submitted to MEPA to demolish a terraced house and build flats and a penthouse in its stead.

Iklin forms part of the Central Malta Local Plans, which stipulates that the net floor area of each residential unit must exceed 120 sq m. The provision of this Policy supersedes the DC2005 policy relating to the minimum size of dwellings for residential development applications in the Iklin Residential Area and this as a measure to safeguard against over development.

Clause No 9.1.14 of the Central Malta Local plans also states, “current trends in Iklin show that developers’ efforts in maximizing the use of each site is resulting in high density developments. The cumulative affect of this trend may result in the residential area of Iklin being developed in a manner that is excessively dense to the detriment of the quality of life of residents. This Policy is thus intended to ensure that any redevelopment takes place at a density that is more compatible with the surrounding areas”.

Taking into consideration the above, it stands to reason that the permit should have been refused. Not only was it not refused, it was deferred until draft amendments

are finalised. Should such amendments be passed, it would prove to be a disaster for Iklin, which is a young locality made up mostly of a population aged between 40 and 55. Parking is already a problem as it is and within the next five to 10 years, when the children of these families come of age and own their own transport, parking will be more of a nightmare than it is now. The problem of parking is also aggravated because of the shopping outlets that are opening in Iklin, with an ever-growing number of cars belonging to customers and employees. Should the amendment of the 120 sq. m net floor area pass, many of these terraced houses will be changed into blocks of flats with the consequent multiple increases in population density. Where before there was only one family per house, the same area will house at least four families, with all their requirements and social problems.

Isn’t it be about time that MEPA considers the actual needs of the man in the street and not satisfy contractors and developers who are not finding enough terraced houses for development and are pulling strings.

I do not know about anyone else, but is there a whiff of elections in the air?

A. Ciantar

IKLIN