An application has been filed to sanction illegalities at a fuel station complex in Qormi to which Mepa gave a controversial three-year “temporary clearance” after the last election, Times of Malta is informed.

The owner of J. Gaffarena Service Station, Johann Gaffarena, confirmed when contacted that the illegalities flagged by Mepa remained. He said he had now applied for these to be sanctioned and expected the planning authority to give the green light.

When asked what changes he proposed to have the illegalities sanctioned, Mr Gaffarena replied: “It is not your business. What have we done to you? Why are you always trying to write about us.” He then hung up.

Mepa validated Mr Gaffarena’s application earlier this month and has invited representations from interested parties by the first week of May. It will then decide whether to give its green light or refuse the application, as it did in the past.

The application is to sanction the complex “as built, including but not limited to, sanctioning of basement garage, ground floor showroom and first floor offices and the construction of a class 6 outlet, six car washes and drying area”.

Mepa sources told Times of Malta if all the illegalities remained it would be difficult to recommend the issuance of a permit.

“However, policies have changed significantly over the past months, and a new fuel station policy is in the final stages of being published.

“So nothing can be excluded at this stage,” the sources said.

Mepa was asked whether any illegalities had been removed since the grant of the temporary clearance, but no replies had been received at the time of writing. An enforcement notice issued on the fuel station, including over an extra top floor and the doubling of the building’s footprint, is still in place.

Located in the outskirts of Qormi, the service station was sealed off by Mepa in 2008 after it was established that the developer went beyond the approved planning permission obtained two years earlier for the construction of a petrol station outside a development zone.

The place was opened for business in defiance of the enforcement order, and Mepa officials returned to the site in September 2009, sealing off its entrance and again closing down the service station.

Following the change in government in 2013, Mepa changed its policy and lifted the ban it had previously imposed.

After new legal provisions drawn up by the planning authority, a temporary permit was issued enabling to function those parts of the petrol station considered to be in line with the permit issued, including the sale of fuel. The government, through Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia, defended the change in policy and noted that the new provisions included a €500,000 bank guarantee.

The Gaffarenas were given 36 months to get their house in order and get the building sanctioned.