The Environment and Resources Authority will not object to the widening of a road in Gharb that would lead to a recently approved fireworks factory located Outside the Development Zone, due to safety considerations.
The application is for the sanctioning of road widening works by third parties and proposed widening to create appropriate access to the fireworks factory.
The proposed development is located in an open rural area known as ‘Landar ta’ Geriska, in Gharb. This is a rural road connected to Triq San Dimitri and also to Triq id-Dahla ta' Cini. The site can be accessed from Triq San Dimitri and Sqaq Ta' Cini.
The ERA says that the area “is relatively free from physical development, predominantly characterised by sloping terraced fields and coastal cliff areas.”
This proposal is ancillary to another application for a fireworks factory, to which ERA had already objected on various counts, including likely consequential impacts of future ancillary interventions especially modifications to the site environment to accommodate new or widened access roads.
The ERA said that “such intervention was foreseeable and has now been confirmed by this current application. The fireworks factory application was approved by the Planning Authority despite ERA’s concerns, with the following condition to the effect that the development can only be implemented if the proposed access road is also approved: Condition 1: The works approved in this development permission shall not commence before the development permit for the country road is issued by the Planning Authority. This country road is needed to ensure suitable access for emergency vehicles to accede to the new firework factory.”
The fireworks factory application had been filed back in 2017 and saw several objections raised, including by the Gharb local council. The ERA had, in the 2017 application, also objected to the proposed fireworks factory. The ERA had expressed considerable concern for the proposed fireworks factory covering circa 5,000 square metres, further stating that the type of use and scale are out of context with the area.
“The proposal will contribute significantly formalization of the area, introduction of alien features, cumulative and indirect impacts related to proposed activity and introduction of safety hazard that would limit and deter public use. Proposals for new fireworks factories should not be considered in the absence of relevant policies backed by sound site-selection studies and feasibility studies including the establishment of a ceiling for the number of traditional fireworks factories that should be reasonably accommodated in the countryside”
The ERA had also said that it was significantly concerned with regard to ad-hoc commitments within the countryside particularly in sensitive locations such as the proposed development. “It is noted that within Gharb, fireworks-related structures already exist at two distinct sites, with one of the factories subject to a fireworks accident and currently in disuse. In this regard, a status report of the previous fireworks factories/structures is requested. The construction of such a new facility would need to be carefully located within an area less sensitive, and only if justified in terms of need.”
Regardless of the concerns the ERA had raised however, the application was still approved by the PA. Subsequently, this road application was submitted.
The ERA noted that the development of the proposed access road entails various modifications to the site environment, including rock cutting, removal of natural vegetation, hard surfacing with concrete/asphalt, and construction/modification of boundary walls along the proposed road. ERA had also noted that in view of the site sensitivity, such interventions do not respect the site context and “would result in damage to natural features, visual intrusion in the countryside, and overall degradation of the sensitive rural landscape.”
“It was also noted that some of the interventions have already commenced on site without the required development permits, on which there is also an active enforcement notice.
Notwithstanding the above, the ERA said that it takes cognizance of the already approved permit for the factory and notes that this application is ancillary to the fireworks factory for safety purposes.
“ERA still reiterates its reservations on the proposed fireworks factory development on site and in relation to this application, however it is not objecting to this proposal in view of safety considerations relating to the approved fireworks factory.”
It is pertinent to note that the 2017 approved fireworks factory application is currently undergoing an appeal before the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal.