The Lija mayor is calling on Mepa to revoke a permit allowing the construction of a private road in Iklin as it is encroaching on the safety buffer zone of the St Michael's Fireworks Factory.

Mayor Ian Castaldi Paris described the road works, which started yesterday under police surveillance, as "a scandal" as the road encroaches on the 183-metre buffer zone of the factory that falls under the Lija council.

When contacted by The Times the owner of the villa, Charles Gafà, said it was unheard of to withdraw a permit that had been issued after a permit-holder incurred hefty expenses.

Dr Gafà pointed out that there were public roads in the area that were much closer to the factory than the private road in question.

One had to understand that he had entered a business investment and was pursuing his rights, he said as he stressed that he had nothing against the St Michael's Fireworks Factory. So much so, that he had told a factory representative that he would not object to the factory and was ready to put it in writing.

He added that Mepa had also assured factory members that the construction of the private road would not affect them.

Last week Mepa declared that the construction of the road in question did not breach the provisions of the Explosives Ordinance Act that states that fireworks factories and roads must be at least 183 metres away from roads and inhabited areas. Under the law, this buffer zone applies to roads that are "used regularly"

According to Mepa's interpretation, the Iklin road, which will serve the villa overlooking the valley where the factory stands, does encroach on the 183-metre buffer zone. But being a private road, the passageway is not considered to be in regular use and therefore falls outside the provisions of the Act.

Nevertheless, Mr Castaldi Paris - accompanied by local councillors and factory members - yesterday addressed the media on the site of the road works, where he expressed the council's solidarity with the fireworks factory. He said the factory was facing the threat of closure because Mepa allowed the construction of a road.

The mayor explained that works on the construction of the road were scheduled to start two weeks ago, on August 9, but were stopped by members of the fireworks factory.

Members sent a letter to the Prime Minister, as the minister responsible for Mepa, to intervene but only received an acknowledgment.

Yesterday, Mr Castaldi Paris continued, he was informed that a mechanical shovel was escorted by police to start the job.

"This is very serious as it seemed that this road is going to be built. We know that we cannot take the law into our hands but we insist that the Lija factory, which was here first, ought to be protected. Whoever applied for permits in the area was aware that there was a factory nearby," he said.

He expressed his frustration at the fact that Mepa did not include the factory in its maps. "The factory is legal," he insisted. He called on Mepa to immediately stop the road works and meet the council to discuss the future of the factory.