Mepa commission approves Gozo Lidl permit

Mepa’s Environment and Planning Commission B this afternoon approved an application for the building of a Lidl supermarket and associated facilities including surface parking at Ta’ Zejta, just outside Xewkija. The application had been resisted by environment groups, with Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar saying it contradicted Mepa’s own policies. Astrid Vella, of Flimkien Għal-Ambjent Aħjar, said the small shops were keeping the village cores alive  and Mepa had specific policies that protected them. A group of shop owners said this new supermarket would be a hard hit for them. “We can't leave these monsters come here as many jobs will be lost. We will end up eating each other. We wait for carnival and Easter for the Maltese to come up to Gozo,” one said. The decision was postponed last June after the developers were asked to draw up a retail impact report and, earlier in May, to address safety issues for vehicles entering and leaving the site. The main concern was that the large refrigerated trucks transporting supplies to the German supermarket chain might also not be able to manoeuvre inside the site, creating further problems. During the hearing, architect Carmel Cacopardo said...