Frustration as construction moves towards Sliema core

Sliema, which has already lost much of its old-world charm, is in danger of losing most of what is left of its older buildings as developers start encroaching on the town core and residents are left fuming in a cloud of dust.

The Sliema local council is informed about an average of six to 10 applications a week proposing the demolition of houses and other buildings to replace them with high-rise apartments.

"The entire Sliema front has been built up, the last two spaces on The Strand have now been taken up for construction and more new buildings are rising in the old streets. When will it ever stop?" frustrated Sliema mayor Albert Bonello Dupuis asked.

Now that the Sliema shoreline has been entirely re-built, the developers are moving closer to the town core. Majestic houses that have withstood the bombing of World War II are being pulled down to make way for apartments.

Scores of applications with a common description - "the demolition of existing building and construction of apartments" - are awaiting approval at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The rate of construction in Sliema can only be described as phenomenal as more tower-cranes dot the skies of this tourist and residential hub.

No fewer than 300 apartments are being constructed on the site formerly occupied by the Galaxy Hotel. A couple of smaller hotels are lined up to meet the same fate. There are four development applications in Depiro Street and more development is taking place in St Mary Street and St Agatha Street, not to mention practically the entire re-development of the Qui-Si-Sana area.

Mr Bonello Dupuis expressed doubts over whether the infrastructure of Sliema could keep up with the rate of development.

"We already have a serious strain on the infrastructure and we're facing problems with sewage. Doesn't anyone realise what we are letting ourselves in for?"

The Sliema local council has introduced a rental fee of Lm20 a day for cranes and trucks to cover the inconvenience generated by operating in the area. The fee has met the wrath of contractors who have accused the council of capitalising on construction.

When contacted, the director of local government within the Home Affairs Ministry, Natalino Attard, said the fee established through a legal notice was of Lm1 daily and that he had written to the council about the matter.

But Mr Bonello Dupuis has no intention of returning the estimated Lm280,000 the council has raised in a year through the rental fee.

"It's the local council which is ultimately footing the bill for the immense damage these large vehicles are causing. Do you think it's fair for cranes to be parked on people's doorsteps?" he protested.

Parts of Sliema have been identified by the Malta Tourism Authority as a "tourist zone". A spokesman for Mepa said that together with other government agencies, the authority was at the moment working on a plan to improve the general image of the area through better construction site management in order to reduce the nuisance.

Over the last few days, Mepa has been meeting contractors to inform them of the need for proper management around their construction site so as to safeguard public safety and reduce the impact of their activity on the neighbourhood.

Asked whether issues like sewage were taken into consideration when permits were being considered, Mepa said that if a major project was involved, the Malta Resources Authority was consulted at the processing stage.

In the meantime, construction works whip up more dust as the town turns increasingly into a concrete jungle.

"It's like Baghdad after a bombing outside my home. No precautions are taken to contain the dust and there is complete disregard for the dangers faced by residents and passers-by," said one Qui-Si-Sana resident who preferred to remain unnamed.

"We are choking in dust and yet the authorities seem reluctant to do anything because they claim the construction industry is the motor of the economy. Very soon they will realise why tourists won't bother to turn up."

Another resident living close to Cathedral Street claimed that some of the construction was causing damage to adjacent properties.

"Sometimes I wonder if the damage caused by excavation and the inconvenience is intentional to entice more residents to sell their properties," he said.

Sliema may be covered in concrete but property is still very much in demand even if a three-bedroom flat nowadays costs at least Lm80,000.

The incidence of wheezing

A study carried out by respiratory specialist Stephen Montefort had shown that the central north area of the island, which includes Sliema, had the highest level of wheezing.

The data collated for the International Study of Asthma and other Allergies in Childhood had examined the distribution of wheezing for two age groups.

For the five to eight-year-old age group, the incidence of wheezing had increased from seven per cent to 16 per cent between 1994 and 2001. For the 13-15 year old age group, there were no significant changes in the same period though at 21 per cent, the central north recorded the highest rate of wheezing in Malta and Gozo.

"There are a lot of compounding factors which lead to wheezing, however one thing which is common to all areas is the change in environment," Dr Montefort said yesterday.

"There's a lot of building going on and the fine dust would certainly contribute to a greater prevalence of wheezing - especially if this takes place in narrow streets."