The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) hearing regarding the proposed development of the Sant’Antnin Waste Treatment Plant, scheduled for tomorrow, promises to be a hot affair.

Speaking yesterday during a protest at Mepa’s premises by the Committee Against the Proposed Recycling Plant, the front’s legal advisor Toni Abela accused the authority of scheduling the meeting during the festive season with the intention of having as few objectors as possible present. The committee announced that it will be organising transport from village squares.

The protesters yesterday sported a banner which said the proposed upgrading is “flawed, mocked and vitiated while thousands of residents request an investigation.”

The Committee Against the Proposed Recycling Plant is a lobby group set up specifically to combat the development of the Sant’Antnin plant representing the residents of Gudja, Fgura, Marsascala, Zejtun and Zabbar.

Committee chairman Darren Marmarà said the upgrading process is vitiated and is not aimed for the good of the people. He said the group commissioned a study by lawyer Dr Abela and Architect Lino Bianco and presented it to Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas. The commissioner, claimed Mr Marmarà, has pledged that he will take a personal interest in the case.

Dr Abela said that as soon as Mepa learnt that the committee had met Mr Dimas, it scheduled a public hearing for tomorrow at 10.30am, just four days before Christmas and in the midst of the festive season. He said Mepa scheduled the meeting deliberately to have as few objectors as possible at the meeting.

He said the committee will ask the political parties to set up a board of inquiry to probe the process and reports regarding the rebuilding of the treatment plant.

Committee secretary Joe Sant said the committee would have liked to discuss these matters on a national level, but was left with no choice but to take the case to Brussels.

If needs be, we will take the case to all countries in Europe, he added.