1 comment.How to Build Abusively in the Countryside with MEPA’s Blessing – FAA
 Email item
|  Print item
|
|
Although the authorities are now emphasising the protection of the countryside, the public can’t help but be sceptical as although MEPA policy SET 11 prohibits all forms of urban development in ODZ, determined developers regularly seem to find a loophole.
This is amply illustrated by the case of four adjacent tracts of land over 6,000 square metres which until a few months ago were beautiful open fields in the limits of Mosta, in an area generally known as Hbuliet Moni, in Triq San Pawl tal-Qliegha just before the Mosta/Mtarfa/Mgarr/St Paul’s Bay roundabout.
In 2006 applications were submitted to erect “agricultural reservoirs” and later “pump rooms,” possibly to pump water to fill the reservoir. Where the water was to come from only the Malta Resources Authority would – or should – know.
The applications were approved, but public reports alerted MEPA the fact that reservoirs do not usually have fancy walls, elegant gates and video hall porters, all of which somehow slipped the notice of enforcement officers. Far from the original plans, the so-called reservoirs and pump-room had in fact metamorphosed into beautiful little villas complete with lawns, terraces and even a statue of the Madonna. How’s that for imagination! As one enforcement notice states, “Accommodation – Totally New Dwelling.”
To its concern Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar has discovered that the story does not end there, for the developers later submitted applications to sanction the irregular structures; on the 9th of December MEPA is due to decide on the sanctioning of one of the abusive buildings – however months after publication of the sanctioning request, the application wording has suddenly been changed into a request for “stables” with no re-publication of the application.
Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) registers its strongest condemnation that MEPA is recommending approval of this flagrant abuse! In examining the Case Officer report, FAA notes that the abuse is not even mention and the case is treated as a conversion of reservoir to stables with no mention of the little villa that was built abusively on ODZ land.
FAA asks if this means that one can obtain planning permission to construct various types of building in ODZ, provided one called them “agricultural reservoir” or “pump room”? Then one could use these buildings as dwellings and, if MEPA issued an enforcement notice, all one would need to do is to re-designate the buildings as “stables”.
Yet another application on these sites declared a protected and previously intact girna to be dangerous and requested permission to build an “agricultural store” That’s how easy it is to urbanise the countryside.
FAA regrets that sanctioning of such outrageous abuse makes MEPA’s Planning Directorate appear to be in league with unscrupulous developers who put up this kind of charade. FAA also highlights the fact that the architects involved, two of whom are very active in the main political parties, must have been aware of the irregularities on their sites.
Whether or not MEPA is in collusion this time round will be known when it decides on this application.
Photo above shows the “agricultural reservoirs” and “pump rooms” for which the developers are seeking MEPA’s sanctioning.
Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar
This is a typical example of the type of corruption, which is rife within Malta and Gozo. The people who built these no doubt have friends in Mepa or in the Government itself and because of these friendships can do whatever they like.
This is not an isolated incident as I have many photographs, which I took last year of similar buildings. At first I thought they were nice little holiday homes until I found out that according to the planning application they were ‘tool sheds!’ They were the most elaborate tool sheds I’ve ever seen complete with Madonna’s , barbecue’s sunlounger’s etc.