Court action against an Attard resident accused of illegally installing a gas tank in his front garden was dismissed today after the Court heard the Mepa chairman explain that the Authority had no policy on the matter when the tank was installed.

The case had been instituted against Jonathan Camilleri Bowman after he installed a gas tank in his front garden.

In his evidence this morning, Mepa chairman Austin Walker said that at the time when the case was instituted, Mepa had no policy on the subject matter.

He said an enforcement notice issued by the Authority against Mr Camilleri Bowman had been withdrawn when he appealed.

The Authority issued regulations on such gas tanks in December. The law laid down that no permit from Mepa was needed for their installation as long as the established guidelines were observed.

Architect Paul Camilleri said the installation of the gas reservoir did not constitute 'change of use' since the tenant had applied to install a reservoir. At the time it was the practice between Mepa and the Malta Resources Authority that if the latter deemed the reservoir to be safe, it could be used.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit then dismissed the case.

The legality of the 1,000 litre gas tank was first questioned by neighbours in January last year, when they complained it was not safe.

Mr Camilleri Bowman has argued that it was installed after he received the necessary certification from the Malta Resources Authority.