I have been living in a terraced house in Żabbar for the past 19 years. My plot measures 80 by 22 feet. Next to my house was a field measuring 60 feet frontage by about 150 feet. Mine was a terraced-house-only street.

How does Mepa want us to reduce our carbon footprint when such permits are given?- Ninette Zammit, Żabbar

I have to thank Malta Environment and Planning Authority for issuing a permit for the field next to me to be developed into a five-storey block of flats (semi-basement garages, three floors of apartments and penthouses above them).

The top floor of this block is being built right now. Consequently now I have nowhere to hang my washing, as both my roof and my backyard now hardly ever receive any sunlight. Neither does my washroom. As a result I had to install a tumble dryer which has obviously made my electricity bills go even higher.

To add insult to injury, upon enquiring about the possibility of installing a photovoltaic system, I was told that even this was now impossible.

How does Mepa, or the ministry responsible for it, want us to reduce our carbon footprint when such permits are given, without any consideration for the neighbouring area.

Since my neighbouring block of flats also have a plot with great depth, we never see any sunshine from the back and we have to switch on the kitchen lights as soon as we wake up. This apart from some considerable damage to my property.

I would again like to thank Mepa for the high electricity bills I am now receiving and for not being able to do anything about them. So much for encouraging the use of renewable energy.