The police have withheld a permit for the holding of the Fiera l-Kbira at Montekristo Estates with MEPA objecting due to the fact that the site at Hal-Farrug has a number of pending enforcement notices.

MEPA said that the trade fair can take place only on land that has no planning illegalities, but Polidano Bros said the area in question has been cleared of all illegal structures. The organisers said that they intend going ahead with the fair, to be held on 9 July, which will include some 230 exhibitors.

The story was published today on MaltaToday. Polidano Bros CEO Paul Sammut told the newspaper that Charles Polidano had removed all illegal structures at his own expense. But it turns out that enforcement notices on the area still stand, including one on an illegal car park.

Organiser Paul Abela said the fair will go ahead as planned. He said that other trade fairs have been held at other venues, despite the fact that they were not 100% in conformity with legislation. He pointed out that the MFCC in Ta Qali has a pending enforcement notice dating back to 2002.