MEPA caseload nears 5,000

A total of 489 applications were decided by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority last month which also received 479 new applications. This brings the pending caseload at the authority to 4,877.

The authority said it processed 117 notifications of development, which did not require a formal application.

MEPA issued four contravention notices to developers on sites that were breaching construction site management regulations.

These contraventions were related to the lack of hoarding and screening around building sites. These fines amounted to €3,261.09. Inspectors also issued three other contravention notices, amounting to €2,445.83, to individuals found breaching the Littering Act.

The authority said that 59 Stop and Enforcement notices were issued, 48 in Malta and 11 in Gozo. The enforcement section within MEPA closed 43 cases, 36 in Malta and seven in Gozo.

18 other enforcement cases were sanctioned by a planning permit while another 19 cases were resolved by the owners’ decision to remove their illegal development and comply with the enforcement notice.

The authority issued 131 waste carrier permits and six waste broker permits; an environmental permit was issued, and another withdrawn. Three environmental inspections on permitted facilities were also carried out.