PA clamps down on massive Siggiewi illegalities

The Planning Authority has issued yet another enforcement against illegalities in Siggiewi at Ta’ Zgamardi in the vicinity of the Falconry centre.

While some of the illegalities date back to ten years ago, the extensive illegalities have now spilled onto the surrounding fields.

The PA confirmed that the infringements in the area include the removal of topsoil to expose bedrock, the removal of rubble walls and the change of use of site from agricultural use to that of keeping of “large machinery, metal and construction materials”.

The contravener has been requested to stop any further work and reinstate the field to its original state.

“If he does not comply within 15 days from when the notice is issued, he will start paying daily fines and PA may decide to take further action,” a spokesperson for the Planning Authority told MaltaToday.

The site is already subject to enforcement orders issued in 2004 and 2008 but the illegalities have yet not been removed.

Since the new infringements are outside the perimeter of these orders, a new enforcement notice with daily fines is being issued.

The removal of soil and other illegalities on the site had been originally reported to the Planning Authority a week ago by Nationalist MEP candidate Michael Briguglio who was informed about the case while meeting Siggiewi residents.

Residents have reported that the latest work started eight months ago and fear that the area is being transformed into a concrete plant.

The first enforcement issued in 2004 referred to the construction of a franka stonewall and excavation works without permit.

18 years later the case is still listed as “pending direct action”. The PA had refused an application to regularise these works in 2006.

In 2008 the PA had also issued another enforcement order against the “construction of a large warehouse, garages, stables and boundary walls without permit.”

Ten years later the case is listed as having been referred for “direct action vetting.”

Owner Epiphanio Mifsud had appealed against the enforcement order issued in 2008. But his appeal was rejected by the PA’s appeals tribunal in 2011.

An application to sanction the illegalities was later dismissed by the Planning Authority.

The dismissal was confirmed on appeal in October 2013. No further planning applications have so far been presented to further develop the site.