Thursday, 4th December 2008 - 16:20CET

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.

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Comments

carmelo briffa (on 5/12/08)

Why is MEPA is doing all this fuss. 6 years ago the same MEPA issued permit for semi-basement maisonettes in Qawra Rd near Bella Vista.

Charles J Zammit (on 4/12/08)

B'Buga ?????? Do you mean BIRZEBBUGA ? With no i either before the a .
BIR is a well . ZEBBUGA is an olive = BIRZEBBUGA .

Wilfrid Buttigieg (on 4/12/08)

Why not pay a visit to Marsascala!? There are various semi basement garages turned into residences (without even having a back yard and thus have clothes hanging outside). Specific enforcement reports have been made at Mepa and the situation remained the same.

A.E. Camilleri (on 4/12/08)

Further good news of enforcement. Keep it up. Now how about those so-called boat houses all over the place, but mainly in Bugibba, Qawra, where passers-by can witness the obvious i.e. that the places are being used to live in (look at the air-conditioners & TV aerials directly linked to a large number of the 'boat houses). And what about the state of these boat-houses lying below the main square in Bugibba; they are in a disgraceful state, and a real embarrassment to both local and the foreign visitor. Action here please too. We know it is not an easy job, but we appreciate the efforts being done to at least try to get things/places like these in order. Well done again.

Charles Falzon (on 4/12/08)

Well done. Keep it up.

Kevin Zammit (on 4/12/08)

Does that mean that MEPA will go around all vacation locations such as st. paul's bay, Marsaxlokk, Marsaskala, B'Bugia etc and close all those garages that have been converted into "summer homes"?

John Inguanez (on 4/12/08)

Does enforcement applies also to Gozo and enforcement notices pending for 8 months??

mario aquilina (on 4/12/08)

So nice to see that something is being done.

More of these type of actions, without mercy, all across the board, please.