Sant alleges petrol station 'scandal'

Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday branded the development of a petrol station in Mellieha "a scandal" , alleging the developer had been given a plot of land "thanks to well- connected friends in the Nationalist government".

Speaking to the press in Louis Wettinger Street (between the Mellieha bypass and the football pitch), Dr Sant said the Lands Department had sold the plot of land earmarked for the Mellieha Football Nursery's use to Nenu Vella - a businessman known as il-Bucks, who will build a petrol station there.

Flanked by Labour MPs Anglu Farrugia and Noel Farrugia, Labour mayor John Buttigieg and residents of the area, Dr Sant said the project was on hold at the moment but the works would start after March 12, once the local council elections are over.

The matter goes back 14 years when Mr Vella owned a petrol station in another site in Mellieha's main road, which he later sold. The petrol station was demolished and the extension of the Salita Hotel, now called Maritim Hotel and Spa, were built instead.

Dr Sant alleged that Mr Vella's contacts made sure he got the necessary permits from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to develop a petrol station on another site.

"The land earmarked from the beginning was a piece of public land close to the Mellieha football pitch," Dr Sant said.

The Labour leader said Mr Vella had been given the plot in mysterious circumstances, adding that the bid placed by the developer had been Lm50 higher than what the government was aiming for.

He said the Lands Department is not supposed to reveal the bidding target.

The Sunday Times spoke to Mr Vella and his son Patrick, who said the Labour leader's allegations were completely unfounded.

"The process has taken 14 years before we got the necessary permits, so there is no question of political connections," said Patrick Vella, under whose name the permit is registered.

He said MEPA itself had suggested the site for developing a petrol station. When residents originally opposed the proposal, Mr Vella suggested two alternative sites - one close to the Enemalta sub-station on the Mellieha bypass and a third site opposite the football pitch.

Carm Lino Spiteri, Mr Vella's architect, said an environment impact assessment carried out on the sites showed the site in Louis Wettinger Street was the best one.

"At this point, the MEPA board approved the development," Mr Vella said, adding they had also won an appeal filed by residents.

When the Lands Department issued a tender on the site, the Vellas won the bid at Lm8,050 a year. He explained the Lands Department had given them the right of first refusal since nobody before them had been granted a permit to develop the 1,700 square-metre plot.