St Paul's Bay illegal excavation site still in disrepair two years later

The planning authority still cannot say when Polidano Brothers' illegally-excavated site in St Paul's Bay will be restored, two years after a damning inquiry report concluded that the construction magnates were allowed to "do as they please" in the area.

Just last Thursday, the excavated site collapsed further at about 11p.m., forcing alarmed neighbouring residents out of their homes. Two years earlier, there was another collapse that had left part of a house's foundation jutting out in mid-air after the earth slid from beneath it.

Following that incident, which was reported extensively by The Times, further exposing that the excavations were being carried out illegally, the government had launched an inquiry.

The 45-page report of that inquiry, penned by the authority's auditor, Joe Falzon, had lambasted the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for its failure to take meaningful action against the developers and insisted that they be made to restore the area to its original state at their expense.

Despite several enforcement notices, the report had pointed out, the authority had never stopped the developer.

"In practice, the developer was left to do as he pleases, despite the fact that he is known for such behaviour, as becomes clear from the testimony given by the planning director," the inquiry board concluded.

Since then, the house that lost part of its foundations was demolished. The adjacent section of St Paul's Bay bypass, which had also collapsed following excavations, was repaired. But the site was never restored as recommended in the inquiry. In fact, the site has collapsed again, raising alarm bells for the people living in the house flanking the present hole.

"The damage is moving down the road affecting another house now and nobody seems to be doing anything about it," one resident said.

When asked about the state of affairs, Mepa referred to a plan that the developers had submitted outlining how they intended to stabilise the site back in 2007.

To date, the works to mitigate and remove the danger, as approved in the method statement, have not yet been completed, the authority admitted, adding that applications for development below the bypass were still being processed.

The situation is even affecting the adjacent bypass, which, although repaired, remains sectioned off with barriers, forcing vehicles into a single lane at the beginning of the road.

The Malta Transport Authority said traffic could not be allowed along the closed part of the road before Polidano's site was restored.

When questioned about the situation, the Transport Ministry said: "ADT advises us that while the development is still not completed, opening the currently closed portion of the road could cause damage because its base would not be sufficiently strong to take the weight of traffic. Such a thing would damage a road that otherwise has nothing wrong with it".

The bypass had first collapsed following illegal excavations at this site nine years ago. The south-bound carriageway was closed as a precaution and, despite a major overhaul of the whole thoroughfare in 2007, it remains partly closed to traffic to date.

Road to nowhere

July 2000. Part of St Paul's Bay bypass caves in following excavation works on adjacent private land owned by contractors Polidano Brothers.

February 2001. Barricades are set up on the bypass. ADT says the road collapsed after contractors over-excavated the land due to the high clay content. St Paul's Bay local council says costs of repairs will run into hundreds of thousands of liri.

January 2004. Repairs to road will cost about €8.2 million. The government announces that parts of the road will be rebuilt using EU funds.

April 2006. ADT still unable to quantify cost of repairs and the government criticises Mepa for allowing developers to "do as they please".

May 2006. ADT estimates the damage will cost over €1 million and says that responsibility is still not shouldered. Government states the second phase of reconstruction of the bypass will only start once the damaged part is buttressed.

May 2007. The government announces the road will open even though works are not complete. However, the part where road collapsed in 2000 is still closed off.

June 2007. Opposition Leader Alfred Sant calls on Minister Jesmond Mugliett to explain why the original budget exceeded by €1.1 million and argues that the delay is harming tourism. Polidano Brothers claim responsibility for the collapsed part of the road and agree to carry out repairs at their expense. During an onsite visit, Mr Mugliett says he expected repairs to be ready by September. However, the road remains closed due to problems in the sewage system.

October 2007. The government threatens Polidano Brothers with legal action over the unfinished section.

December 2007. ADT announces another agreement with Polidano, who promised to start works on December 10. Dr Sant describes the situation as "shameful" and calls for Mr Mugliett's resignation.

January 2008. The government refuses to give a deadline on the repair works and road remains closed.

February 2009. Part of road remains closed.

April 2009. Excavated site collapses again late at night. Area is closed off and re-opens a few hours later.