Mepa chairman refuses to be interviewed

The chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Andrew Calleja, has refused to be interviewed by The Times over last month's decision to allow the redevelopment of the waste recycling plant in Marsascala.

The development and environment watchdog he heads has also refused to react publicly to the findings of a dossier compiled by the Committee Against The Proposed Recycling Plant which suggests that the outcome of the plant upgrading application process was a "forgone conclusion".

Asked by The Times for a reaction, Mepa declined to comment on the matter, citing the appeal lodged by the committee against the approval of the outline development plan last September as justification. "Mepa will make its presentations to the Planning Appeals Board," a spokesman said.

A spokesman justified the refusal to react by referring to an issue raised during the sitting when the anti-plant lobby argued that the architectural plans the Mepa board was voting on had been changed and that therefore by law they had to be resubmitted for public consultation.

Mepa said that during the public hearing, the case officer explained to those who "would listen" that the changes involved in the plans were very small and consisted of lowering the height of a structure to further mitigate the visual impact. Given that the change was positive, the spokesman said, the authority felt there was no need for further consultation.

"Mepa feels that in view that all was done in the full view of the public, no interview is to be granted on the matter," the spokesman decreed.

The interview with the chairman would not have been restricted to the modification to the plans.