The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) and representatives of the Mdina Cathedral Chapter have reached an agreement on what to do about the silver sheeting applied to the back of the cathedral.

It was decided that Heritage Malta's Restoration Unit will submit a restoration method statement to Mepa outlining how the silver paint could be covered to retain the waterproofing but at the same time remove the eyesore created.

The silver paint was applied by the Cathedral Chapter "to protect a Mattia Preti painting".

A Mepa spokesman said yesterday both sides agreed there was no contestation of the fact that the site was scheduled or the fact that an immediate solution was required.

In the beginning of last month, Mepa sent the Cathedral Chapter an enforcement notice to remove the coat of silver paint from the back of the cathedral, listed as a grade one monument.

The Chapter had argued that silver paint had been applied some 50 years ago and had faded with time.