Tal-Ħandaq : a development study

Abstract

This study was done as a start to the Central Zone Local Plan which will soon be started by the Local Plans Unit of the Planning Authority. The report is formed of a number of meetings and surveys performed on the Tal-Ħandaq area. This area is situated on the outskirts of three Local Councils which are Żebbuġ, Qormi and Luqa. This area is at present very degraded and it severely lacks attention. Since the area contains a large number of different uses certain problems arises due to the uses not being compatible. An example of this is a school situated on the other side of the road from the Industrial Estate. The main aim of this study is to ascertain these clashes between the different uses and try and find practical solutions so that neither one nor the other will have problems in the future. If this cannot be done some other option has to be considered such as the relocation of one of them. Apart from the problems of different types of industries being mixed up together, there is another problem which is probably worse. The area lacks a number of basic services. The services present in the area are barely adequate at present and these should be improved so that the industries will be able to deliver better. Some of the industries also lack some basic services such as electricity or water while other services do not cater for industrial use such as the drainage service. Another problem in the area is that of agriculture. Despite there being a large number of farms and the largest amount of the area studied is agricultural land, the roads in the area are not suited for large agricultural machinery. The farmers have to buy their own appliances since the ones which are normally hired refuse to work in the farmers' fields. The roads are too narrow for this type of machinery to pass through as well as being practically non-existent. Despite all this, the work still goes on day by day. The grumbling never stops but if the area were to be upgraded enough, it could also be used for a number of things such as a recreational area. The valley which is situated to the south of the area is virtually still unspoiled since very few built structures exist within it apart from a number of hunters' huts which are usually camouflaged quite well. The only problem, which could be seen in the valley was a number of carob and other trees which were uprooted so that the area would be able to be used as a dumping site for unusable building material and other types of stone. This report will hopefully start the ball rolling towards improvement of the area since at present it is very degraded. This is a pity since this it contains one of the few agricultural areas in the Maltese Islands which are virtually still untouched by the hand of man. This area should be cared for and maintained as much as possible so that we will have something to show our children and the other people coming after us.