Architects are furious at a Planning Authority decision to freeze its planning application process for Easter week without prior notice. 

Applicants seeking to file a new application through the PA's online portal on Monday received a message saying that "the period between 10th April 2017 and 16th April 2017, is defined as a Peroid (sic) of Inactivity through LN 162 of 2016. No new Applications may be submitted during this period." 

The PA message asked architects to reload their application after Sunday April 16. 

The Kamra tal-Periti has now written to the PA and Planning parliamentary secretary Deborah Schembri insisting that the situation be immediately reversed, noting that under law, the PA had to extend timeframes during its shutdown periods. 

"This action from the Authority, which completely disregards commitments which periti have with their clients, and which individuals have with other third parties, is not on," the KTP said.