The Committee against the Recycling Plant in Marsascala has filed an official complaint with the office of the Ombudsman.

In its application, the committee said that on 21 December, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority held a public meeting on the subject of the demolition of the existing plant. The application was submitted by WasteServ.

The committee, which is a registered objector to the project, requested a copy of the minutes of the meeting from the Mepa chairman. The committee said it would be appealing the decision, possibly even taking action outside Malta.

However, the committee was refused a copy of the minutes. The same scenario unfolded before the Mepa appeals board.

The committee said that Mepa’s refusal to hand over copies of the minutes affected the position that it wanted to take in regard to any ulterior action that might be taken. In addition, the committee said that in its opinion, the decision not to give a copy of the minutes was illegal and also in violation of the Aarhus Convention to which Malta is a signatory and requested that the Ombudsman investigate the case and recommend that the minutes be handed over.