I have just read the article entitled ‘Resident loses right to appeal San Ġwann development’ (July 26).

I have been complaining to Mepa for five years about illegally-built garages now spewing exhaust fumes through open windows right opposite our apartment. Next to us, an old lady spends days on end in her apartment, inhaling the exhaust. She too complains regularly.

Each year, I immediately get a staple answer that, normally, a developer has five years to complete a project and I have to wait for that period to elapse before they could do something. What efficiency! I could not help thinking about the Mepa customer care department digging into their files and replying so promptly.

With bated breath I waited for five years to pass and, on the fifth anniversary, in June 2013, I wrote to them again. I was certain that, having known about the case for five years, inspectors would soon zoom to the place. Guess what, though? Dead silence for 12 months, notwithstanding the reminders, not even an acknowledgment and, needless to say, no sign of the inspectors either.

Somewhere I read that they have 30,000 complaints to deal with. No wonder. First they try to come up with every excuse under the sun to nullify a complaint, then they sit pretty and allow the complaints to accumulate, and then whine of having too much to handle. The cheek!

Any such stories anyone?