A man has called on the courts to order the planning authority to clamp down on a supermarket in Żabbar, saying illegalities have existed for the past 21 years.

John Cordina, who lives next to Scotts supermarket, filed a judicial protest alleging that the company, formerly known as Pirella supermarket, had an application before the Planning and Environment Review Tribunal that has been pending for 21 years.

Mr Cordina, who is a registered objector, said the application was originally to sanction a change of use from a wedding hall to supermarket but was changed to an extension of garages.

The building, owned by Joseph Portelli, had several pending enforcement notices, some dating back 15 years, the judicial protest said.

The planning authority had failed to take action on its enforcement orders.

Meanwhile, the building had been used as a supermarket for the past 21 years even though it was registered as a wedding reception hall, Mr Portelli claimed.

He accused the authority of acting abusively and illegally, noting that its failure to take legal action was causing damages.

The judicial protest was filed against the Prime Minister, the chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the Environment Minister, Pirella Supermarkets, the Police Commissioner and Mr Portelli, among others.

Lawyers Errol Cutajar and Frank Cassar filed the protest.