St Michael’s Fireworks Factory in Iklin is not marked on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) plan, while factories which had been closed down for years are still marked as kamra tan- nar (fireworks factory), this newspaper has learnt.

The only inscription on the plan of the area says kappella, indicating the chapel close to the factory. “This is surely no mistake but was carried out with a plan in mind,” said John Mangion, PRO of St Michael’s Fireworks Organisation and former Lija mayor. “Certainly one does not simply forget to indicate a fireworks factory when this has been in operation since 1925.”

Meanwhile, the owner of a plot situated behind the factory and overlooking Iklin valley is building a private road to his building site. Although the building in question does not fall within the 183 metres buffer zone established by law, the drive and six metre wide private road does.

Mr Mangion pointed out that carob trees started to be cut down when roadworks started. When he explained to construction workers that they were cutting down protected trees, an alternative way was found. Meanwhile, stripped bark and timber can still be seen in the area, he said.

The Environment Protection Act, Chapter 348 entitled, Trees and Woodlands (Protection) Regulations, 2001 clearly states: “No person shall attempt to fell, cut, debark or strip off the bark or leaves of a tree; attempt to uproot, remove timber, affix something to, or in any way, attempt to destroy or damage, any tree or part of a tree listed in the Act except by way of management or surgical intervention performed by the Department for the Protection of the Environment, the Department of Agriculture or by authorised persons.”

Earlier this month, the St Michael’s Fireworks Organisation wrote to the Prime Minister to inform him about the lack of indication of their fireworks factory on Mepa plans and the road building, among other issues.

During the past months, the same fireworks factory was on the news for being too close to the Naxxar Higher Secondary School ground. Besides being a place for manufacturing fireworks, the area is used for setting off petards, thus the school ground had to be properly covered and cleaned prior to and after the Lija village feast in order to avoid any hazard.

“In 2006,” Mr Mangion pointed out, “a government building scheme was issued but withdrawn soon after since part of it fell within the fireworks factory’s buffer zone.” Similarly, no permit should be issued for development falling within the same zone and the road building should immediately be stopped, he said.

In a statement earlier this week, Mepa declared that the construction of the road in question did not breach the provisions of the Explosives Ordinance Act stating that fireworks factories must be at least 183 metres away from roads and inhabited areas. This buffer zone specifically applied to roads that are “used regularly”. Thus, since the new road is private, it is not considered to be in regular use and so falls outside the provisions of the Act.

At a press conference last Tuesday, Lija mayor Ian Castaldi Paris said that there is no clear definition of the term “regular use,” as a result of which the council and fireworks enthusiasts fear there is the possibility of closing down the factory.

The St Michael’s Fireworks Organisation and the Lija local council are asking for a written pledge from the AFM, Prime Minister and the Police Commissioner stating that if the private road continues to be built, the fireworks factory will not be made to close down.

Subsequently, Mr Mangion expects the mayor to resign if the declaration is not signed and the road building permit is not withdrawn.