UPDATED: Mistra disco permit revoked

(Adds MLP reaction)

The MEPA board this morning unanimously revoked the controversial outline permit granted for an outdoor disco in Mistra.

The permit was revoked in terms of Article 39A of the Development Planning Act because assessments in terms of the Habitats Directive had not been carried out.

The developer behind the development application did not turn up for the board meeting and informed the authority that he is no longer interested in developing the site, which is rented from Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

MEPA Auditor Joe Falzon had slammed the Planning Authority’s Development Control Commission A over the way it granted the permit for the disco and had recommended that the permit be withdrawn.

Mr Falzon carried out the investigation at the request of the Prime Minister amid the controversy at the end of the electoral campaign.

In his conclusions and recommendations, Mr Falzon said the development application was not assessed according to official policies and its approval was a gross irregularity.

He accused the DCC of failing to abide by the provisions of the Development Planning Act and had decided against planning policies as established by Mepa and approved by the minister responsible.

Furthermore, the provisions of the EU Habitats Directive and related local legislation had been ignored.

The Labour Party this afternoon welcomed the MEPA decision to revoke the permit for the open air disco at Mistra.

The Party said it was sure that had Alfred Sant not raised the issue last March, one of the most scenic spots in Malta would have been lost.

The MLP campaign had been shown to be correct, first by the MEPA auditor a few days after the election and now by the MEPA board itself.

The MLP said today’s decision put further pressure on the Prime Minster to make a statement in Parliament on the political implications of the scandal.