‘Sliema’s coastline is for the public’ - mayor slams lido, land reclamation plan
Gżira mayor also expresses concern about project, which includes land reclamation
Sliema mayor John Pillow says he will ask the town’s local council to object to plans to reclaim land and build a lido facing Manoel Island.
The application by Strand Lido Ltd, LAMHCO and Sea Pebbles Ltd was flagged on Saturday by political party Momentum, and includes land reclamation to make way for a lido with an outdoor swimming pool, sun deck, two buildings to accommodate ancillary facilities to a pool, Class 4D restaurants and a play area.
“Sliema’s coastline is not there to be continuously consumed by overdevelopment and commercial expansion at the expense of public space, open views, and the character of our locality,” Pillow wrote on Facebook.
The mayor said the proposed lido would permanently alter one of the most iconic and heavily used promenades in Malta, partially blocking the open views towards Manoel Island, which the government has committed to turning into a national park.
“Our seafront belongs to everyone: residents, families, walkers, swimmers, and future generations. Decisions of this magnitude cannot continue to chip away at the identity and breathing spaces of our community.
Sliema has reached a point where the protection of public space and quality of life must come before further overdevelopment.”
Contacted by Times of Malta, Gzira mayor Neville Chetcuti said he would also be raising the issue at the town’s next council meeting, and that he was not enthusiastic about the project.
“It’s not the right place for it. So much of the coastline has already been taken up,” he said.
According to the business registry, The Strand Lido is owned by Carmel Farrugia, Daniel Farrugia and Joseph Casha. Sea Pebbles is owned by Joseph and Josephine Casha.
Daniel Farrugia is the partner of Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar. He also owns the Londoners Pubs franchise. Joseph Casha also owns Medasia.
Meanwhile, LAMHCO is a Malta-Libya government investment firm. The Libyan Arab Maltese Holdings Company Limited was set up in 1975 for major investments in manufacturing and hospitality, and has a portfolio of companies worth in excess of €40 million.
Land had also been reclaimed for another controversial lido close to the same promenade, partly owned by mega developer Michael Stivala.