Polidano and MEPA in cat-and-mouse at Hal Farrug

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is justifying its decision to remove the concrete blocks sealing Polidano's illegalities in the Hal Farrug a few months before the general election, claiming that this step was taken to ensure that Polidano Brothers adhered to the enforcement notice issued in September 2012. 

The same reason is now being given for MEPA's failure to seal the area again with concrete blocks after Polidano was stopped once again from continuing the illegal works in the past days. It also emerges that Polidano has a pending planning application to regularise illegal works in this area. The entire Hal Farrug complex was developed illegally in the past 20 years and was regularised in a piecemeal fashion by MEPA.

Asked by MaltaToday why the concrete blocks were removed a spokesperson for the authority replied that the Authority consented that the concrete block be temporary remove to allow the developer to adhere to the enforcement notice, which notice, required the removal of heavy plant machinery and pre-cast elements which were stationed on a site without the necessary permits. But instead of removing the equipment, Polidano continued with the illegal works.

Asked why the area was not sealed again after MEPA intervened to stop the latest illegal works, a spokesperson for MEPA replied that following compliance with the Enforcement Order, the site remained temporarily open over the past weeks since material and machinery "was continually being removed from on the site".

It was MEPA's decision to remove the concrete blocks before the general election that enabled the contractor to restart the illegal works in Hal Farrug a few days before the general election.

Last week the Sunday Times revealed that illegal works at the back of the company's headquarters in Ħal Farruġ had started again a few days after the election and continued in the following days.

On Tuesday MEPA issued a statement saying that works had been stopped and on Thursday the police confirmed that they were pressing charges against Polidano.

The works stopped in September consisted in two massive outdoor storage depots, which were developed through the dumping of tons of rubble onto the fields behind the company. In the past days contractors also began erecting what looks like a concrete warehouse, over an area of hundreds of square meters of land.

The MEPA spokesperson also revealed that court proceedings against Polidano were initiated in September 2012.

These proceedings are still pending. But despite the repeated illegalities on the same site MEPA has chosen not to proceed with direct action to remove the illegalities. 

"As soon as we became aware that that illegal works continued a few days ago in the 'sealed off' site, MEPA officers stopped all works and imposed 'daily fines' as envisaged in a legal notice issued in 2012," the MEPA spokesperson replied when asked why MEPA has not removed the illegalities.

MEPA also confirmed that Charles Polidano has a pending application, which includes the sanctioning of illegal works on the same site.

Despite the repeated illegalities on the same site, MEPA is still holding a meeting with Polidano Brothers to discuss pending applications. The MEPA spokesperson insisted that the meeting has been scheduled for some weeks and that it is a "common practice" for MEPA to hold such meetings, with applicants who have pending cases and issues with the Authority.

"One of the issues on the agenda is the latest case whereby the developer continued to carry out illegal works on a site which the Authority had consented to temporarily remove the concrete blocks for the developer to adhere to the instructions of the enforcement notice," the MEPA spokesperson confirmed. The Authority will also be discussing other pending applications, which the developer has at MEPA.

In December MaltaToday had revealed an area currently used as a zoo in the neighbouring Montekristo Estate is also covered by an enforcement order.  Asked why MEPA has not sealed the area or stopped the operation the spokesperson replied that MEPA is still evaluating the issue. "We will consider all appropriate options with all the relevant entities including the Veterinary Services Division which is responsible for regulating zoo licences".

He also confirmed that Court proceedings initiated by MEPA last year on this area are still pending.