Two garages, built illegally on agricultural land in Birżebbuġa, were yesterday demolished by planning authority officials during an enforcement exercise aimed at restoring the field to its former state.
A man related to the land owner was arrested for trying to hinder enforcement officers from carrying out their duties, a Malta Environment and Planning Authority spokesman said.
The open garages were built in a walled-up field which is outside the development zone near Wied il-Qoton and were being used to store construction material. In 1994, the owner, Leo Camilleri, had applied for a permit to build a block of apartments but the application was turned down, the spokesman said. After that, the owner leased the land to a tenant who used it to keep his fuel bowsers.
In 1997 Mepa issued a stop and enforcement order against the owner and the tenant since the area was not being used as agricultural land. The tenant was then asked to leave.
Some years later the land was leased to a contractor who, till yesterday, used it for storing building and construction material. The illegal garages were built after 1997.
Enforcement officers also removed large quantities of derelict objects and other pre-fabricated construction material that were being stored in the illegal garages. The owner, Mr Camilleri, was present during the enforcement action. He complained about the way Mepa handled the situation.
As far as he was informed, he said, the 1997 enforcement notice was issued to clear the area of the bowsers, which he did about a decade ago. Until yesterday morning, no one had asked him to clear the construction material, he claimed.
Mepa added that, over the years, the site had become a growing inconvenience and health hazard to residents living across the valley. Asked why the action was not taken earlier, the spokesman said Mepa had to deal with thousands of cases of illegal development.