'Closed down' Birżebbuġa scrapyard still operating

A scrapyard overlooking the picturesque Wied Żembaq in Birżebbuġia is still operating despite being closed down by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, according to an environmental organisation.

The Gasparell scrapyard was still active as Mepa failed to carry out regular monitoring of the site, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar said in a statement.

FAA referred to a report in The Times last year, which said the scrapyard had been closed down.

But enforcement staff failed to notice that the owner frequently removed the large concrete blocks originally placed by the authority to close off this site, and put them back in place in the evenings, the NGO said.

The organisation said heavy plant vehicles were frequently driven out of the 'sealed gate' indicating that the owner had reversed Mepa's legitimate action.

The authority's officers recently inspected the site and reported that everything was in order.

FAA said that residents living near the scrapyard were subjected to decades of grit-laden air, unbearable noise throughout the day caused by the compression of metal, and heavy toxic smells when tyres and other toxic material were set on fire.

The NGO said the scrap was encroaching on the valley slope and moving into the valley, which has been designated as an EU site of ecological and archaeological importance and includes Borġ in-Nadur and Għar Dalam prehistoric sites.