The Mepa board yesterday suspended after a long and animated discussion two applications by the Freeport regarding the repositioning of the new cranes that have been bought.

The board reached this decision, on the suggestion by its chairman Vince Cassar, because of a not so clear response by Transport Malta's Civil Aviation.

The clearance from Transport Malta stated that 'Transport Malta has reviewed this proposal in conjunction with stakeholders concerned. It has been established that these contraptions will penetrate one of the established aeronautical protection surfaces by circa 18m and although this situation is not desirable, given the importance of this facility to the economy, on exceptional basis and without prejudice to any future request, it is being considered as acceptable subject to the following mitigations:

a) Surveyed height and position shall be communicated to Transport Malta (Civil Aviation Directorate) upon installation of each crane.

b) Cranes shall be equipped with dual-unit, low intensity lighting (ICAO Annex 14 Type B) on the jibs, which are operational during night and low visibility conditions.

c) Cranes shall be equipped with obstacle lighting failure warning system which will instantaneously alert the operator (Malta Freeport) who in turn shall immediately notify MIA plc via email or any other expeditious means'.

The context to this is easily explained.

The cranes replaced other, older, ones. But the new cranes can reach to 140 metres against the 110 m of the previous cranes. That makes the new cranes only 10 metres less than the power station chimney.

It was pointed out that in 1988 when an application was being considered for the power station to be at Il-Mara, outside Benghajsa, with an 80 metre chimney, the then Mepa board had rejected this application.

This was brought up by Carmel Cacopardo who asked how now did Civil Aviation give the go-ahead to a 140 metre crane jib?

Mepa chairman Vince Cassar said he wanted a clear-cut response from Transport Malta. The Mepa CEO, Johann Buttigieg, said he had got in contact with Transport Malta in a bid to get them to clarify their response but no reply has been forthcoming.

Coming, as said, towards the end of a long session, this was a complete shock. Never, in the history of the Freeport applications, had the Mepa board turned down an application (except one on the eve of European Parliament elections in the previous legislature, which refusal was soon turned down on appeal).

The board decision was welcomed by scattered applause by the small doughty group of Birzebbuga defenders, quickly snuffed by the chairman.

The small Birzebbuga delegation was augmented by the sudden appearance of independent MP Marlene Farrugia who made two rousing speeches in defence of the Birzebbuga residents.

Previously, the Birzebbuga residents had high hopes the local council was to get the major part of a €900,000 plus planning gain.

There is a story behind this. In 2007, the previous Mepa board had imposed a €721,000 planning gain but some time later a Cabinet minute signed by Principal Private Secretary Godwin Grima said that Cabinet had decided to withdraw this because the Freeport is in the national interest.

This would not compensate for how the Freeport has affected the residents, Ms Farrugia said. The former Birzebbuga mayor, Joe Farrugia, listed the sports facilities the British used to have - hockey, football, rugby, cricket, etc - which areas have all been taken over by the Freeport.