The Planning Authority has categorically denied claims of “collusion” made in public in relation to illegal works carried out on the former Barracuda Restaurant in St Julian’s.

As a matter of fact, the PA said in a statement, although the claim of illegal works was reported through informal means on 1 January 2022, it is to be noted that investigations were immediately conducted to identify the course of action to be taken.

St Julian’s mayor Albert Buttigieg earlier this week condemned the Planning Authority’s delay in issuing a ‘stop notice’ on the works taking place at the Barracuda restaurant in Balluta Bay, despite the architect requesting a suspension on the application for the project.

The video footage reported in public media portals, that was communicated to the Executive Chairperson of the Planning Authority on 1 January 2022, shows that the wooden balconies of the property had already been dismantled while the workers in question were dismantling the lowest portion of the last wooden balcony (specifically the balcony’s bankun).

For this reason, claims emerging in media portals stating that any alleged delay has facilitated the destruction of such wooden balconies are unfounded especially when considering the fact that when the matter was raised, the wooden balconies were already dismantled, the Planning Authority said.

"As soon as the claims of the unauthorised works were raised, the Planning Authority started investigations to determine whether such works were covered by the valid executable permission PA6075/16 on this site, and if not, who is the rightful contravener/s," the authority said in a statement.

"This process is vital and should not be taken precariously, as from a legal and an administrative point of view, if action is taken without the necessary verifications, there may be undesired consequences, including the withdrawal of orders by a Court of Law."

Moreover, for the Planning Authority to take action, it said, knowledge of the site history and valid permissions on site is necessary to act promptly and in a correct legal manner. Further to this week’s media release issued by the Planning Authority, it is to be noted that as soon as these investigations were undertaken, the Authority immediately instructed the contravener/s to halt any works on site. In fact, the PA said, it has been closely monitoring the property in question to ensure that no further unauthorised works are carried out. 

The Planning Authority said that in no way does it accept the behaviour of contraveners who proceed with unauthorised works without a valid permission, especially on a day and time to attempt to bypass the Planning Authority’s enforcement.

Apart from the stop and enforcement notice which was issued in the last days against the contravener/s, the Planning Authority said it would proceed with all necessary action in terms of the provisions of the law to ensure that such behaviour is punished whilst ensuring that such offence is remedied.