Alternattiva Demokratika has welcomed the decision by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) to apply article 39a of the Development Planning Act to revoke the grant of a development permit issued with regard to development in St Anne Square, Sliema.

AD said that after Mepa’s gaffe in issuing a permit, it had realised that this was a clear case of abuse by the developer, who had misled the board with his submissions.

Alternattiva Demokratika spokesman for the Environment and Rural Affairs Mark Causon said: “Mepa should make sure that cases such as this application should be turned down and that no second chances are given.”

Alternattiva Demokratika said it was also very much concerned by the fact that an architect had managed to mislead the Mepa board by his submissions on behalf of his client and demanded that action be taken against all those who abuse in this manner.

“Developers, and especially their architects, should make sure that all the information, plans, declarations and data submitted with the application are precise.

“Abuse like this should result in the developer being blacklisted and legal action being instituted against him,” Mr Causon continued.

He said that the St Anne Square application was against sanitary regulations, as the intended construction would obstruct light and air to the residences in the corner of the East side of the square.

Moreover, he said, it would have been constructed on public land next to and covering part of a historical building.

“These reasons should have been sufficient for the application to have been refused from the outset,” said Mr Causon.