The Marsascala mobile police station has finally received a permit from the planning authority – after operating without one for over two months.

The station, located in Ġnien Sant’Anna, a short distance from the parish church, consists of an office, a kitchenette and ancillary sanitary facilities.

In a decision dated August 3, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board issued a two-year permit and bound the government to remove the structure and return the site to its original state when the period elapses. “The placing and continued use of this mobile police station after the expiry of the said permit will be subject to a fresh full development permit application,” the board said.

The planning authority case officer concluded that the request to sanction this structure should be viewed favourably because it served the community’s needs. Inaugurated last October to increase police presence in this coastal village, the structure was originally located near the salt marshes of Il-Magħluq.

The placing and continued use of this mobile police station after the permit expires will be subject to a fresh full development permit application

However, it was never covered by a proper permit, as no full development application was submitted by the Home Affairs Ministry.

Consequently, the structure was removed a few months later when the temporary clearance issued by Mepa had expired.

The structure reappeared at its current site a few weeks later, this time covered by a temporary five-month permit which expired on May 20.

A week before the deadline, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said in Parliament that arrangements were being made for a permanent permit.

However, the permit was only issued four weeks ago, meaning that for two-and-a-half months the mobile police station was in breach of planning laws.