Mepa dodges question on breach of procedure

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority failed to respond to claims by the environmental NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar that the watchdog breached its own procedure in a recent permit issued to uproot protected trees in Attard.

The NGO protested with Mepa regarding the issue of a permit for the uprooting of four old Aleppo pines in Mdina Road. The pines are included in Mepa's list of protected trees.

The removal of the trees forms part of the building of a petrol station outside a development zone. The trees were removed to provide access to the petrol station. However, FAA claims that Mepa did not follow procedures when it issued the permits for the uprooting of the trees.

FAA said the permit was requested on Friday and granted just two working days later when the law lays down that a three-week notice must be posted before trees are uprooted.

The authority countered the FAA claims in a statement issued yesterday which, however, failed to address the questions regarding the breach of law.

The Environment Protection Act provides that any uprooting of listed trees should be covered by a permit issued by the Department of Agriculture after which the permit should be fixed on site for "at least three weeks" before these are uprooted.

Mepa confirmed it had received clearance from the Agriculture Department for the removal of the trees, adding that "with a strong landscaping plan already in place, there was no reason why the permit should be delayed".

It pointed out that the Aleppo pines removed would be replaced by seven shrubs over and above the 70-odd trees and shrubs requested in the landscaping scheme of the petrol station.

Mepa did not refer to the question regarding the notice stipulated by law.

An appeal against the petrol station is still pending as development continues.

One resident, Tancred Cassar, commented: "The modifications to the road for which the trees were uprooted are not really meant as traffic calming alterations, as is being said, but meant to attract cars coming down from Rabat."

The Development Planning Application report for the petrol station, submitted by the Mepa case officer to the watchdog's board, had criticised the development for a number of reasons. It said the design of the development as proposed does not satisfy adequate and safe traffic acceleration and deceleration requirements, among other things.

All the interested parties, including residents, hospital authorities, and the local council, had lodged objections with Mepa, yet the development was given the go ahead.