Mepa to step up action against illegal scrap yards

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) on Thursday removed at least 45 vehicles from an illegal scrap yard in Qrendi.

The yard had been subject to enforcement action since 1997 during which time the owner of the site used to dump scrap vehicles on the site, Mepa said.

A Mepa official, accompanied by Administrative Law Enforcement police officers, went there at about 7 a.m. and ordered the owner to open the yard so that the scrap could be removed by the authorities.

The operation lasted around seven hours and involved eight people and seven heavy plant machines.

Mepa said it meant to intensify its actions against illegal scrap yards. As part of this policy, it will not be issuing further reminders to owners of such sites currently under enforcement.

Through the enforcement notice, the owners have already been notified that they are in breach of planning regulations. As such they are liable to action at any time.