displayfireworks1
12-11-2013, 12:50 AM
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The planning authority this afternoon released a draft policy for new fireworks factories and the upgrade of existing facilities.
The policy, which is the first of its kind for Mepa, was drawn up by a committee that was chaired by Labour MP Michael Falzon, a fireworks enthusiast and legal advisor to the pyrotechnic industry. The draft is open for public consultation until February 7.
Dr Falzon said fireworks factories had to be in outside development zones and adhere to police and Civil Protection Department conditions, which were also being updated, as well as guidelines on vegetation used for landscaping.
Under the current rules, factories had to be at least 183 metres from a road but the new policy was now extending this to any built structure, including industrial zones, old peoples’ homes and reverse osmosis plants.
Natura 2000 sites and candidate sites, as well as archaeological zones could not have fireworks factories built on them. The policy was also restricting factory height to one storey.
It was putting an onus on the minister to appoint a committee to conduct risk assessment exercises and propose mitigation measures before a plan was submitted.
The policy would prevent people from going underground because rules were the same for everyone.
Before Mepa started to consider an application, applicants would have to submit designs to an evaluation committee that analysed all safety aspects, he said.
Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia, who is responsible for Mepa, said the authority approved 16 and refused 14 applications between 1992 and 2013. Another two applications were refused but left pending.
There are now 35 operational firework factories, including one in Gozo.
He said that people with pending applications are being given the option to decide whether they want their application judged under the old or the new policy.
There are seven pending applications for new fireworks factories.
.
Read more
http://www.mepa.org.mt/fireworkscomplexes
.
http://www.di-ve.com/sites/default/files/styles/term_page_featured_top/public/article/media/MEPA%20logo.png
The planning authority this afternoon released a draft policy for new fireworks factories and the upgrade of existing facilities.
The policy, which is the first of its kind for Mepa, was drawn up by a committee that was chaired by Labour MP Michael Falzon, a fireworks enthusiast and legal advisor to the pyrotechnic industry. The draft is open for public consultation until February 7.
Dr Falzon said fireworks factories had to be in outside development zones and adhere to police and Civil Protection Department conditions, which were also being updated, as well as guidelines on vegetation used for landscaping.
Under the current rules, factories had to be at least 183 metres from a road but the new policy was now extending this to any built structure, including industrial zones, old peoples’ homes and reverse osmosis plants.
Natura 2000 sites and candidate sites, as well as archaeological zones could not have fireworks factories built on them. The policy was also restricting factory height to one storey.
It was putting an onus on the minister to appoint a committee to conduct risk assessment exercises and propose mitigation measures before a plan was submitted.
The policy would prevent people from going underground because rules were the same for everyone.
Before Mepa started to consider an application, applicants would have to submit designs to an evaluation committee that analysed all safety aspects, he said.
Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia, who is responsible for Mepa, said the authority approved 16 and refused 14 applications between 1992 and 2013. Another two applications were refused but left pending.
There are now 35 operational firework factories, including one in Gozo.
He said that people with pending applications are being given the option to decide whether they want their application judged under the old or the new policy.
There are seven pending applications for new fireworks factories.
.
Read more
http://www.mepa.org.mt/fireworkscomplexes
.
http://www.di-ve.com/sites/default/files/styles/term_page_featured_top/public/article/media/MEPA%20logo.png