A planning authority decision on the proposed extension to the Sliema carpark to include more parking spaces as well as a restaurant, a cocktail bar and a lounge area, has been postponed to October.

However, in the public hearing yesterday, Mepa case officer Joel Fenech recommended that the project permit be refused on grounds of lack of accessibility.

Objections were raised by the National Commission for Persons with Disability, as sanitary facilities, ramps and lifts were not deemed user friendly to all visitors.

The proposed project requested a lateral extension of about 180 square metres on the eighth floor in order to house a cocktail bar area and a lounge area close to the approved restaurant.

It also requested an extension of about 25 square meters to an internal courtyard, covered by a skylight, resulting in a total area of approximately 50 square meters.

Apart from the increase in the area of the restaurant, the proposed development involves various internal alterations to the approved building, namely the reduction of commercial/office space to be replaced by car parking – which would now accommodate an extra 198 parking spaces.

An objector to the proposal, Maria Mercieca, who lives next door to the car park, on the backside complained about the shade and humidity that the new extension would cause.

She also objected to the fact that the restaurant kitchens will be directly on top of the garages full of cars with fuel.  She also urged the authority's board of directors to go and live for three days at her apartment so they get an idea of the noise.