The Malta Environment & Planning Authority, together with the Rural Affairs and the Environment Ministry and all local councils, is addressing the environmental and safety impact created by vacant sites.

When unattended, these vacant plots result in negative environmental and safety impacts and render an area unsightly and potentially hazardous, it says. The walling off of these vacant sites, within the development boundary scheme, that are creating these hazards will now be enforced.

On numerous occasions, these sites in urban areas are being earmarked by unscrupulous individuals as possible locations for the dumping of domestic waste and other more bulky items. The net result is that the surrounding urban environment is left shabby. These conditions also give rise to a health and safety hazard for citizens.

The authority has outlined a set of standards that should ensure that the constructed boundary walls will be adequate to meet the environment and safety standards. These criteria identify that:

The 8-course boundary wall should be constructed along the official road alignment.

It should be constructed of limestone or concrete brick material.

A 4-inch concrete capping should be placed above the top course to secure the wall.

Single walls should have stone pillars constructed to support the wall at 2-metre intervals or as advised by the architect overseeing the work.

As from 16 April, local councils will be advising Mepa to issue an enforcement notice on vacant sites that are causing degradation to the environment. Failure to abide by this notice within three months will result in a fine of Lm50 per metre of frontage, subject to a maximum of Lm1,000. Together with this, the site owner will have to pay, with interest, for the work the local council will have incurred for the construction of the boundary wall. No development permits will be issued on these sites if the bills have not been settled.