A planning application (PA no 00773/02) has been submitted to Mepa to build a two storey building to house a new police station and which would also include public toilets. This application is now in the process of being considered by Mepa. The application notice has never been displayed on this site as demanded by the same planning authority or if it was it must have been removed overnight as none of the local residents ever noticed it.
The applicant has requested a permit to build this “community centre” on the only strip of green land that there is left in the heart of Qawra, to be precise on the green grass verge between the new bus station and Triq il-Kurazza. The reason for this application is because in order for the applicant to extend his property he would need the land that is presently occupied by the police station. The developers ‘community spirit’ has encouraged them to build this “community centre” in order to shift the police station across the road to this uncared for public garden area. The applicant’s architect wrote to the police asking them for their consent and no reply has been forthcoming from the police sources. This was confirmed by the applicant’s architect during the Planning session of Monday 19 July.
While we thank the applicant for being so community minded, those of us living permanently in the area object in the strongest possible terms to any building whatsoever in this last parcel of open land in our area. Furthermore, and as far as the proposed public toilets goes, may we remind everyone of what happened when private entrepreneurs are entrusted with operating public toilets. The public toilets that were built in Buġibba Square as part of the promenade upgrade programme some years ago have been closed for an number of years and are now being used as stores by the same entrepreneur. In the meantime two portable toilets that were placed on site are being funded by the taxpayer. We should learn from previous mistakes and not allow such abuse to re-occur on our doorsteps.
■ Charles Micallef
Qawra