Council appeals to Mepa to approve project for former Jerma hotel site

The Marsaskala council has appealed to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to process and approve as early as possible the new project earmarked for the site of the former Jerma Palace Hotel.

Since the hotel closed, the locality suffered in tourism and economy. Despite the new owners' efforts the forces of erosion have dilapidated the building. This was because the hotel was built on a peninsula facing the raging Majjistral and Scirocco winds and the sea, the wind and nature reduced this once splendid hotel into a heap of ruins inhabited by a massive colony of rats, mice and other infected insects.

Drug users were also using the ruins leaving hundreds of syringes lying about and now it seemed that illegal immigrants were squatting on the site.

The council said it feels that the proposed project would beneficial to the community, expanding its tourism potential, enhancing its economic activities and a shot in the arm for many food outlets.

Furthermore, the promoters committed themselves to use sea transport for bulky building material, avoiding the use of heavy vehicles in our streets.

The council said it was currently at an advanced stage of negotiations with ERDF with the aim of acquiring funds and assistance for projects related to the area dominated by the site and if things remained as they were, it risked losing such funds and other assistance.