At the end of the discussion, around three quarters of a packed room left the Mepa boardroom: so much was the interest created by just one application.

This planning control application, and the one before it, had been originally approved by the Mepa board until someone noticed that the objectors had not been informed of the Mepa board sitting. Thus the decision was reversed and the hearing held on Thursday.

The one that caused all interest (and a raft of lawyers, architects, etc as well as local warehouse owners) regarded a site in Mriehel, next to the Forestals building.

This area is privately-owned but has always been used by the trailers and trucks in the area for parking and to turn around. There is an awesome congestion in the area because of on-street parking and this open space came in very handy.

But then the owners, on the strength of the Mepa permit that was later withdrawn, erected a wall and fenced it in and the problems for the trailer owners just ballooned.

The applicant argued this is his land and he could fence it in, but the objectors, led by former Mepa CEO Ian Stafrace, Dr Mark Refalo and others, argued that since this application was likely to affect the neighbours, at least 75% of the neighbours had to be in favour for the application to be approved. Dr Stafrace argued that by no means can a simple DNO give anyone the right to build where he was not allowed to.

At this point, the Mepa chairman, and other members of the board agreed the discussion had to be stopped pending legal advice.

In another case, a planning control application to reduce the width of a front garden in Marsaxlokk drew the opposition of the owner of the scheduled Kavallerizza building since it would impact on the historic building and its context. Perit Martin Xuereb and Dr Ian Stafrace for the objector argued the PC approval would give the applicant some sort of acquired right in case of a full development application.

At the end, on the chairman's advice, it was agreed an eventual full development application would be discussed by the board itself. The application was approved with two members dissenting.

The third application regarded a two-storey house on the Pieta seafront. Although old, the house presents no particular architectural features and the owners applied to deschedule it from its Grade 3 scheduling.

It was pointed out the house is next door to a six-storey apartment building on one side and the BOV branch on the other.

The board agreed to first apply to the minister for delisting and only then discuss the application as a whole.