Tons of scrap material, illegally dumped on sites designated as agricultural fields, were removed in a series of direct action operations carried out by the planning authority’s Enforcement Directorate over the past days. 

The most cumbersome action took place in an area known as Tal-Facciol in Wardija, limits of St Paul's Bay, where a large area of fertile land was, over the past years, turned into an illegal scrapyard.

The contravenor occasionally removed quantities of this illegal material over the past months but the authority was not satisfied given the extent of the illegality on site.

More illegal material is expected to be removed from the site in the coming days so that it could be re-instated as agricultural fields. Once this operation is concluded the contravenor would also have to restore and rebuild a number of rubble walls which he removed.

In Qrendi, at a site known as Tal-Wardija, enforcement officers started removing vehicles and other scrap material that was dumped within a field which was being utilised as an illegal scrapyard.

Officers also demolished low limestone walls within the site. After several hours, the authority gave its consent to the contranvenor to remove all the remaining scrap within a stipulated timeframe and demolish an illegally built brick structure roofed over with corrugated sheeting.

Similar action was also carried out at in an area known as Ta’ Mrenju, limits of Mgarr, in Manikata limits of Mellieha, and in Wardija, limits of St Paul’s Bay, where vehicles and other scrap material were deposited on garigue and agricultural land.

The authority is ensuring that all the scrap and waste material being removed from the sites by the contravenors ends up at licensed waste handling facilities.

During the following enforcement actions the authority was assisted by officers from the Administrative Law Enforcement.

In October, Mepa’s enforcement directorate closed off 21 enforcement notices issued in the past.

These were closed after the illegality was removed by the owners.

The directorate also closed off another 89 cases were a complaint was received and investigated but no further action was needed as the respective site owners removed the illegal development within days of the first inspection.