The prominence given to the story appears to imply that there was something untoward, or at the very least something exceptional, in the way the applications were handled. This is absolutely not the case and MEPA would like to make the following points regarding the outcome of the decisions based on the reports.

Application PA 05858/98 was submitted on 6 October 1998 and as can be seen from the case officer’s report reproduced on your paper, there was a recommendation made by the case officer to grant the permit and this was approved by the Development Control Commission with the two conditions which are standard to every application. There was nothing exceptional in the procedure followed by MEPA and permit was issued on 31 May 1998.

Application PA 06336/02, which was submitted on 13 November 2002, refers to the proposal of building a small swimming pool in an enclosed garden. As you state in your article, the case officer recommended against the proposal on the basis that ‘the proposed excavation of a swimming pool cannot be favourably considered especially since this will involve excavation at a much greater depth than simply for building foundations.’ In his submissions to the Development Control Commission, the applicant’s architect pointed out that the pool was to be built rather than excavated. Following a site inspection by the Development Control Commission on 3 June 2003, it was satisfied that no excavation works were to be carried out. The permit was in fact issued on 7 October 2003 after the imposed bank guarantee mentioned in your article had been issued. Again, there was nothing exceptional in the procedure followed by MEPA.

Moreover on 9 September, MEPA officers visited the site. During the site inspection it was ascertained that the pool had been constructed on a concrete raft as was approved, the debris was examined and it was established that this was rubbish of no ecological value. This was reported in a communication from the Superintendent of Culturage Heritage following their own separate site inspection on 6 September.

Sylvana Debono

Public Relations Officer

Malta Environment & Planning Authority