Officers within the Compliance and Enforcement Directorate of the Planning Authority (PA) on Tuesday blocked the access to a large field in Vjal l-Istadium Nazzjonali, opposite the Ta’ Qali National Park, owing to persistent illegalities.
The field which is outside the development zone (ODZ) has been subjected to persistent illegal deposition of material, which increased in recent weeks.
This action comes in the wake of yet another similar direct action that was carried out less than two weeks ago on a site in Marsaskala.
The persons responsible for the illegal dumping were first slapped with an enforcement notice back in June 2016, and soon after the PA had stepped in to remove the illegally deposited material. In April 2020, the Authority issued another enforcement notice for a similar infringement. The PA then proceeded with a partial direct action in July 2021, during which a breach of notice was also served to the contraveners. Both enforcement notices carry the maximum daily penalty which to date amounts to more than €80,000, and it is still accruing.
The PA said that instead of complying with the instructions given in the enforcement notices to remove the illegally deposited material and reinstate the agricultural land, through surveillance it had done it transpired that the contravener has recently opened another access to the site to dump additional material and level the same.
Given the persistent and repetitive abuse, on Tuesday, the Authority placed concrete blocks to close off the access to prevent further illegal activity on site. Where seals are placed by the PA, any tampering with such seals will result in the imposition of a fine amounting to €1,500, and €12,000 for subsequent attempts.
The PA said that it will keep monitoring closely the situation on site, and unless the contraveners remove the illegally dumped material, the Authority will proceed with the required operations to reinstate the land at the full expense of the contravener.
During the operation, the PA said that it had to call for Police assistance due to the aggressive behaviour of the contravener.