The long abandoned Jerma Hotel in Marsascala might be turned into a 28-storey tower or a building with a bigger footprint than the existing structure. The owners who had proposed the development of three towers, the highest being 44 storeys high, have now approached the Local Council with new plans, The Malta Independent can reveal.

Minutes of a meeting between the Jerma site owners and the mayor of Marsascala, Mario Calleja, reveal how developers Peter and Jeffrey Montebello, and developer Charles Camilleri, presented two options which could turn the abandoned site into a major development. The minutes, which were seen by this newspaper, show that the owners are proposing to either develop buildings taking the same footprint but adding another three storeys or else build a 28-storey tower with a public square in the middle. The second option would have a much smaller footprint. The meeting was also attended by the council's executive secretary.

The minutes which reveal this information were read out on Thursday during a council meeting. PN council member Charlot Cassar, who has previously expressed his thoughts on what should happen with this particular site, asked the Mayor to have the minutes read out. He also asked if it was possible to have the minutes of this meeting published online for everyone to see and scrutinise accordingly.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, Cassar said that although no formal proposal was presented, the information revealed by the minutes show the extent of the development proposed. The council member immediately posted his concern in a Facebook post. He wrote that the two proposals which were presented to the council were either a building bigger than the present hotel, or the development of a 28-storey tower. "In these circumstances, I believe that the best solution is for the government to buy the area and convert it into an open space for the public," he wrote.

This newsroom contacted Mario Calleja, the mayor of this locality which was already at the centre of enough controversy because of the Zonqor American University of Malta project. Calleja, who was also a Labour Party candidate in the last general election, said that no proposals were presented. He said that if Cassar wants to make his voice heard, he can accept to attend an extraordinary meeting with the developers. According to Calleja, the PN council member is refusing to meet with the said developers.

However, Cassar clarified that he never said he would refuse to meet the developers. He explained that he did not feel the need to meet with them. Cassar mentioned the fact that the developers already applied for an outline development permit with the Planning Authority. The 28-storey tower is mentioned in the permit application.

Charlot Cassar has in the past suggested that government buy the Jerma Hotel land and turn it into an open space to be used by the public. He is reiterating that call.

The Jerma hotel was built over five storeys and had a total of 345 rooms and closed down in March 2007. Cassar explained that the site blocks access to the shoreline, is abandoned, and can be an opportunity for government to reverse the trend Malta has seen over the years - that of developments popping up at every turn.

"It's a one-time opportunity," he said, "for government to buy the area and give it back to the people".

It was recently reported that the site of the Jerma Hotel will be put up for judicial sale by auction. The sale was ordered by the courts during a case instituted by HSBC Bank Malta against JefPet Ltd. An enforcement notice was also issued by the Planning Authority. Shortly afterwards, the auction process was suspended.

Cassar had also explained that the current building blocks the nearby St Thomas' Tower. "Once removed, it will again allow the historic tower to be seen, and would help bolster its status as a tourist attraction. "If we market the tower as an attraction, then tourists will come and the community will benefit," he said.

"If we build everywhere, we will kill off our green areas and put tourism at risk."

Cassar had put forward a motion within the local council for the Jerma site to be cleaned, properly closed off and for action to be taken. A letter was then sent to the authorities.

Meanwhile, the mayor has told this newsroom that the media will be invited when the meeting between the council and developers takes place.

A previous planning application to build three high rise towers, the tallest having 44 floors, over reclaimed land had been declared a 'non-starter' by the Planning Authority. Mr Calleja had, nonetheless defended this proposal, saying it was better to build upwards than sideways. He has also insisted that the site should include another hotel, which would attract more business to Marsascala.

In the minutes, the mayor is also quoted saying that the council members are pro-business, but the council cannot ignore the needs of the residents. Montebello replied by saying that he has no interest in having the residents against the project. Charles Camilleri also highlighted the fact that the development should complement the buildings in the area.