MEPA closes basements illegally used as tenements

MEPA said today it had sealed two basements which were being illegally as tenements and also removed pigeon lofts which were causing a nuisance in Hamrun.

The authority said the lofts were on the roof of a house and had created a health hazard and nuisance. They were removed after the Development Control Commission turned down a request for the sanctioning of the development.

The Authority said it had also closed two basements, in Swieqi and Rabat, that were illegally being used as residential units.

The basement in Rabat was converted into six residential units and had been refused permission twice.

Both properties had their doors and apertures sealed with bricks. In St Paul’s Bay, the authority removed an extended roofed aluminium structure in a terrace.

MEPA officials also demolished illegal works that were carried out around a scheduled gun post in Mellieha. The works included the construction of rubble walls, a terrace of concrete and paving works. The area was being used as a picnic area for private use.

The authority also removed 13 illegal billboards in Gozo and dismantled a 13ft concrete wall at Mtarfa that was obstructing views and disrupting the skyline.