Apr 08 - Europa Point Stadium DPC Presentation Met with a Barrage of Objections
Presenting their application for a Category 4 UEFA grade football stadium at Europa Point, to a packed DPC meeting this morning, the GFA and chief Architect for the project, Mark Fenwick insisted that following studies on a number of sites around Gibraltar, Europa Point has proven to be the only feasible option. Mr. Fenwick explained that converting the Victoria Stadium would encroach on sport facilities currently used by a huge number of people.
The applicants were adamant that FIFA regulations insist on a North – South pitch orientation, deeming Victoria Stadium’s current pitch unusable if the Association is to be accepted into FIFA. Commenting on the other possible sites suggested to the Association by the public during an extended public consultation period, Mr. Fenwick said that Devil’s Tower Camp is MOD owned and was met with access issues. Lathbury Barracks has significant access issues and has been deemed a Special Area of Conservation. The Eastside reclamation has too much commercial value. He added that the traffic study carried out by the applicants had validated Europa Point as a feasible option for the stadium, with three available access roads leading to it.
Mr. Fenwick argued that the shape of the building revolves around Europa Point’s current and frequently used sites including the children’s recreational area, and the walkway around Harding’s Battery. The proposed façade is built up of a transparent textile allowing viewers to see both inside and out of the 150 x 130 meter stadium.
He argued that the building takes over land that currently has no public access, and is set to enhance the surrounding public areas. When questioned on this by DPC member Claire Montado of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust Mr Fenwick noted that the enhancement of surrounding sites was not part of the applicants’ plans but was made as a suggestion to the Gibraltar Government.
His argument was that the stadium could be used by the entire community, with spaces for retail units, conference rooms and a library, among other cultural events.
Commenting on the controversy of whether the stadium needs to meet UEFA category 3 or 4, Mr. Fenwick insisted that all smaller UEFA nations with Category 3 facilities are being asked to upgrade to 4, and in fact there would not be a major difference to a Category 3 facility being built on the site, with only 5 meters of the building being cut.
One of the 9 objectors, Isabella Guillem, insisted that the stadium does not necessarily have to be a category 4 as they are only required for matches on a European league level to be played in, and many other smaller members of UEFA have never reached this point in their international footballing careers. She noted that the Victoria Stadium was currently in the process of being upgraded to a Category 3 stadium.
A number of the objectors touched upon the Gibraltar Development Plan, approved by former Chief Minister Peter Caruana in 2009, as it states that Europa Point is a major tourist attraction and the Town Planning Act notes that this should not be impeded on by a potential development. Other Town Planning Act policies touched upon by objectors include, design, which the act claims must relate to the character, density, mix and form of adjacent buildings and spaces and must be appropriate in the context of adjacent buildings and landmarks.
The applicant brought up the roof walk surrounding the building, which will allow spectators to access views of the straits at any time of the day. He also commented on the their green policy, which will see them explore a number of energy and water saving prospects for the stadium.
Sinking the Stadium
Responding to the Applicants’ presentation, Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Garcia revealed that he has issues with the height, scale and size of the site. He asked Mr. Fenwick whether his suggestion of sinking the stadium a number of feet, allowing for views across Europa Point to remain un-obstructed, was a possibility. In response Mr. Fenwick noted that whilst it was possible, it would result in 93,000 cubic meters of rock having to be removed from the site. He added that the façade would lose many uses, including the roof terraces and added community and cultural amenities. He said that this would take away the ability for the stadium to have life.
In response Dr. Garcia commented that the abundance of rocks would be extremely useful for Gibraltar who currently has to import them. He asked how difficult this possibility would be. Mr. Fenwick noted that whilst it was not immensely difficult it would not be very sustainable and there would a huge disruption to the area during construction.
The Commission questioned the applicants on a number of issues including the opening on the Southern façade of the proposed stadium and the moving of the lighthouse. Whilst the plans would deem the Europa point light house unusable, the GFA has proposed that a light beam be placed on the roof of the stadium to act for the light house.
The Commission also rigorously questioned the applicants on the chosen site leading to Mr. Fenwick insisting that he is ‘an architect and I build on the sites I am given.’ The ESG’s Janet Howitt remarked that the applicants had not provided detailed plans on the other proposed stadium sites and suggested the building of a temporary stadium, whilst other sites were looked into.
Commenting on extreme weather conditions, which are known to occur at Europa Point, the GFA’s President Desmond Reoch noted that in the event of extreme weather, matches would be cancelled, as they are in any other part of the world. He added that this is why the use of three access roads was important, in case the stadium needed to be evacuated due to sudden weather changes.
Objections
The first objector, representing the No to the Europa Point Stadium group touched upon the group’s collection of 6728 signatures both online and on the street. She insisted that the Stadium impede don the natural beauty of Europa Point, which has developed into a place for Gibraltarians to come and relax, now that many have stopped spending time in Spain due to extensive frontier queues.
When asked by Town Planner Paul Origo whether her opinion had changed following the applicants’ presentation, she insisted that they had not.
Further objections came form a representative for Trinity House, who run the Europa Point light house, local Barrister David Dumas who claimed that the GFA have failed to assure the public that the stadium would be used regularly. He also argued that a huge number of buses would need to be used to transport fans to and from the stadium, which would certainly affect traffic flow around Gibraltar. He asked the Commission to consider the application purely on planning grounds, and asked that more suitable alternatives be considered.
Rebecca Faller spoke on behalf of the residents of Europa Point, including the family that live in Lighthouse cottage and runt he lighthouse. She insisted that there were huge knock-on affects on the human side of the project. She touched upon the extreme conditions of the area including salt erosion and flooding following storms.
Other objectors included Trevor Hammond, Michael Neish, who insisted that the GFA had rushed into the plans and had no experience in the logistics of hosting an official UEFA match. He urged them to set their sights more modestly at first, then make a more informed decision when statistics on traffic and other logistics have been collected.
DPC Comments
Deputy Town Planner told spectators of the meeting that the next stage would be for the Applicants to carry out the Environmental Impact assessment, and then sit before the DPC for consideration once again. A second public consultation period will follow the release of the EIA results.
Commenting on the meeting, Environment Minister Dr. Cortes noted that at this time he was not in a position to support the design in the current location. He added that a more minimalist design would be more appropriate. Dr. Garcia also noted that he remains to be convinced on a number of issues, noting that plans have been rushed.
Responding to suggestions that works on the site already been carried out, the GFA insisted that these were only site investigations. The Town Planner said that even site investigations required permission and needed to go through a process.
