The Planning Authority has said that the reinstatement of the balcony on the Grade 2 building in Balluta housing the restaurants Piccolo Padre and Barracuda “is not a simple process, but requires the applicant to submit to the Authority a restoration & works method statement, together with a planning application.”

“This application will need to be assessed and other entities consulted with prior to its approval. The enforcement notice and the daily fine will only cease once the works are carried out in fully accordance with the requirements of the eventual permission.”

The authority was reacting to an article published by this newsroom on 12 January which read that the balconies have still not been reinstated on the protected building.

Works on the building started over the New Year's weekend, despite the application for the project not having been approved yet.

An enforcement notice was subsequently issued over the "removal of timber balconies, apertures and wrought iron railings from the facade and the removal of the traditional pattern tiles from the first floor level of the schedule building grade 2 without permit." The developer was made to stop the works by the Planning Authority on January 3rd.

The Times of Malta reported that the developer would have to pay a daily fine of €50 until the site is reinstated. This small sum, however, cast doubt on the effects of the punishment as a deterrent.