MEPA steps up monitoring of building sites

Rio Sammut

Sep 19th 2008, 05:30

About time too!!! We have several cranes, trucks, huge lorries and concrete mixers in our street for almost 2 years now, after knocking down beautiful villas in order to build monstrous blocks of ghostly flats which will remain empty for another decade or two! They left a mess in the street with patches of oil, layers of dust, stones and no pavement to walk on or space for parking cars!!! And what about the noise level when knocking down buildings and digging up plots...all day long with machinery next door feels like machines digging inside your head and not the plot....noise pollution is littering as well! This is all happening in Triq P.W,Born in Marsaskala and in hundreds of other localities! And the Major says that the workers have a permit from MEPA (to disturd the neighbours and drive them mad!?!).
That means, having 3 building sites in the same junction, no pavement, with heavy machinery in the way, and the usual traffic having to pass through alternative roads. And all we get is this b%$#&*t from the authorities, when facing the cameras and the media.

Paul Barrett

Sep 18th 2008, 13:12

Fines in Malta of Euro 2,233 for breaches of construction regulations will hardly hurt a construction firm that stands to make thousands of Euros (millions of Euros in some cases) by cutting corners at the cost of their workers and residents living in the area.

Sharon Abela

Sep 18th 2008, 12:40

About time!!! We had several cranes & other machinery in our street and they left a mess in the street with patches of oil!!! And what about the noise level when digging plots...all day long with machinery next door feels like machines digging your head and not the plot....noise pollution is littering as well!

lino farugia

Sep 18th 2008, 12:17

This is incredible. We are living in two different countries. We at Swieqi keep on complaining . I have personally telephoned Mepa, The Mayor, Mrs Said and Mr Pandolfino about the Dangerous road at the end of Triq il-Keffa with Triq Il-Mizura. They keep on saying nice word. Eventually the Mayor, Mrs Said said that " According to Mepa the contractors are within the law" !!!!!!!!!.
That means, having 3 building sites in the same junction, no pavment, with trucks, tactors, and the usual traffic pasing through a major road that leads to church and the shopping area. I have seen mothers wheeling thier pushchairs through the middle of the road,while being hooted by cars and tractors to hurry up. But all we get is this b%$#&*t from all concerned, when facing the cameras and the media.
AND............ NOTHING HAPPENS. Mrs Said, Mr Pandolfino please note.
But I suppose we at Swieqi we are all happy!
And by the way , a few hundred meters down the other main road in Ibrag, we have been regailed with a cctv camera to make sure that none of us break the road laws.Ha.
When will all this end?

F.Fenech

Sep 18th 2008, 11:50

We have been reporting law infringments regarding a building site at Triq il Mizura corner with Triq il Keffa in Swieqi (at times directly to Mr Pandolfino) for the last 3 to 4 weeks, still nothing has been done about the fact that we residents have been left with a pavement hardly twelve inches wide, no security gate at the entrance of Triq il Keffa, and lots of dust left unswept at both entrances. We were promised by Mr Pandolfino, that the developer will be obliged to construct a temporary pavement for the duration of the development. Once on this subject what about "Health and Safety" the majority of workmen on sites don't bother with safety shoes,hard hats,etc. etc... and trucks are still seen daily well overloaded,and pretend to cover their load with a skimpy piece of green mesh mainly intended to serve as a sunshade. They are supposed to use the proper Tarpaulin to cover thier load tightly secured to the sides of the truck. Is there hope that we might some action in this regard?

MarioTrigona

Sep 18th 2008, 10:32

I have been reporting a case in Belvedere Street for weeks and nothing has been done. We live in hell. Our street looks like Baghdad rather then "Belvedere". Construction site has no gate with green coverage, the pavement literally demolished with no excess to the public, a drainage inspection hole wide open very dangerous for passers by, people enetering the site throwing garbage bags, take away boxes/food and other useless items in this site, etc. Citations have been issued to the people responsible for this site (according to MEPA Enforcement official, I do not know if this is true or not, sometimes I have my doubts) but the mess is still there. Somebody must step up and do something. MEPA we need FACTS and immediate ACTION and not propoganda on newspapers.

steve busuttil

Sep 18th 2008, 10:00

MEPA seems to have missed Sliema during these inspections.

In our raod we have cement which was left after the crane was blocking the raod for 10 hours yesterday, oil stains on the road thanks to the cranes and trucks and finally the early morning litany of swearing and shouting between crane operator and his collegues who are on the roof of the construction site in cut off jeans/shorts and sandals, but with a great tan!!!!

Just for your info....