The Malta Environment and Planning Authority tomorrow will be sending enforcement officers to investigate the unsanctioned development taking place in the picturesque bay of San Blas in Gozo.

This comes in the wake of an exclusive story carried in The Malta Independent on Sunday today in which it was revealed that a sizeable patch of land has been cleared of all vegetation, a metal gate and a canopy structure have been built and rubble walls have been torn down to make way for what sources said will become a camping site and a kiosk, or an exclusive beach area for a Gozitan hotel.

Contacting this media house today after the publication of the story, Malta Environment and Planning Authority Chief Executive Officer Johann Buttigieg said that Mepa will be sending officers to Gozo tomorrow morning to investigate what is taking place.

Various environmental NGOs contacted by this media house today expressed their disdain for what is taking place at San Blas, describing it as shameful and stressing that San Blas Bay is regarded as one of the most prestigious bays in the Mediterranean, and should remain untouched.

Flimkien ghal-Ambjent Ahjar coordinator Astrid Vella argued that Mepa is turning a blind eye to accommodate developers, adding this was already the case for several localities in Gozo, including Marsalforn, Xlendi, Qbajjar, Dahlet Qorrot, Hondoq Bay, Mgarr ix-Xini and even Ramla l-Hamra, which have been subject to over-towering developments, kiosks, restaurants and boathouses.

The Ramblers Association also expressed its disappointment. Honorary President Lino Bugeja described this as the ‘beginning of the end’, stressing that Gozo needs to be given the protection it deserves, in order to sustain its authenticity; unfortunately this has not been the case in the past years. Mr Bugeja also pointed out that shore line legislation need to be respected, and the first 100m need to be accessible to all.

Mepa chairman Vince Cassar said that MEPA board will discuss the case saying that the article on The Malta Independent “was news to him
“This is a new case,” he said. “The MEPA board members still need to discuss the issue.”

No planning application for the development on the sensitive site was lodged with Mepa as yet, but work is steaming ahead on a project threatens to mar this pristine jewel of a beach and have it suffer the same fate as that of Paradise Bay and the Blue Lagoon.

The land in question, which lies just metres from the sand on the right-hand side of the bay, is public land, as has been determined from Land Registry documents.

The area as a whole is under Level 2 environmental protection by Mepa – the second-highest of four levels of protection applicable to such sites – in that it is an ‘Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance’, so much so that a permit application to prune a tamarisk tree at the bay had been turned down by Mepa last year.

Other applications have been refused by Mepa for, for example, building a room and gate without permission, while a kiosk owner also had Mepa action taken against him for cooking and serving food and for hiring deckchairs and umbrellas without permission.

In a letter send to this media house, Mr Buttigieg said:

“I refer to your front page article on The Malta Independent on Sunday of 29 June 2014 and to the continuation of the same article on pg 8.  The article is riddled with inaccuracies that need to be clarified if the Malta Independent deems itself a credible source of information. Firstly I have personally dispatched Enforcement officers tomorrow morning on site to initiate the necessary investigations of the alleged illegality. 

The article attacks my family when it is clear that my wife has no involvement whatsoever.  I am therefore holding the paper responsible and reserve my right to take any action I may deem fit.

The heading states that the MEPA CEO has been seen at dubious development on public land at one of Gozo's most prized beaches. I haven't been to the area of San Blas or near any vicinity of San Blas for the last 8 years. That means that your claim that I was seen in that area last Tuesday is completely wrong and unfounded.  For sure this is not the way to bring to the attention of the authorities this alleged illegality.  Furthermore it is not the first time for me to inspect sites which I need to have first-hand information especially at a time when the authority does not have a Director of Enforcement. 

I declare that I have no business connections with Mr Portelli or give any preferential treatment to any developer whatsoever.  Neither myself nor my wife are in business partnership with Mr Adrian Buttigieg.  The companies were closed or sold off quite some time ago some of which more than 3 years ago."

Information on Credit Info seen by The Malta Independent however shows Johann Buttigieg’s wife is in business partnerships with Adrian Buttigieg in three other companies: Ta Pinu Developments Ltd, Zebbiegh Developments Ltd and M.M.B. Ltd.