Mepa removes illegal structures in several areas

Planning authority enforcement officers swooped down on illegal structures across Malta yesterday, demolishing and removing concrete platforms, billboards and scrap yards.

Officers demolished an illegal stable at Ix-Xagħra tal-Pergla, limits of Xagħra, Gozo, and cleared more than 20 cars and mechanical parts which were kept in the same field.

In Marsascala, the officers demolished a number of concrete platforms for caravans that had been built over the years along St Thomas Bay promenade. Two caravans that were permanently stationed on site were confiscated.

Illegal steel pipe barriers and planters lodged in a pavement outside Villa Cassar Torregiani in Balluta Bay were removed. These illegal structures were obstructing the passageway and preventing pedestrians from crossing over to the Sliema promenade.

The officers also removed a number of free-standing billboards and others that were placed against a wall in Marsa, Bir id-Deheb, Sta Venera, Mrieħel, Ħamrun, Qormi, Żebbuġ and Mellieħa.

Three days earlier, the planning authority placed notices on the illegal billboards and more than 30 were voluntarily removed.

The planning authority said it had witnessed a rising trend where owners “wisely” chose to remove their illegal development without waiting for the authority to take action.

In fact, in the past month a scrap yard in the limits of Xewkija was cleared and a garage that was illegally converted into a shop was returned to its original use.