AD insists on consultation with residents on new development

Alternattiva Demokratika has reiterated its full support for the Qui-Si-Sana Residents' Association which has been set up to oppose the development of a multi-storey car park that would also include commercial development in what is until now a residential area.

"AD's position is clear. This is a residential zone which should never be transformed into a commercial one", AD's Sliema local councillor Michael Briguglio said.

"This residential area should be protected from all development that negatively affects the quality of life of residents. The Qui-Si-Sana garden is public land and one of the few tranquil places in Sliema. A car park catering for hundreds of cars will alter all this. The situation will be further worsened through the commercial development that is being proposed in the development brief.

"This includes tourist-related leisure facilities extending for 6,000 to 7,000 square metres on one of the car park's floors and catering facilities on the level of the garden itself. The proposed catering facility consists of a 40 square metre kiosk which would occupy a further 400 square metres with outside furniture", Mr Briguglio said.

He insisted that residents should always be consulted prior to any development proposal.

"The last time residents were consulted was back in 1999 when a development brief was issued which stated that the only development to be allowed was a 100 square metre kiosk.

Unfortunately, a development brief was issued in 2002 in which various commercial developments were proposed. This was done without any prior consultation with the Qui-Si-Sana residents," he said.