The article ‘Environment not a priority for parties’ (January 14) quotes former Mepa audit officer Joe Falzon, who at a recent public lecture mocked the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s enforcement officers as persons who cannot even see, hear or smell. The architect made this cynical remark after referring to a recent case he reported to Mepa of works which were being carried out in a shop in very close proximity to his residence. Falzon misled his audience when he stated that it took the authority’s Enforcement Directorate two months to take action on a pastizzeria which carried out works and opened up for business.

What he failed to mention is that the internal alterations that were being carried out within the shop did not require a planning permit.

The only infringement that was noted was the removal of two courses from beneath the shop window to create a doorway and the owner was warned accordingly by the enforcement officers.

When, two months down the line, the shop opened as a pastizzeria, its operation was stopped by the authority within three days. To date, this takeaway has not reopened.

The planning authority is currently processing a planning application for the change of use of a retail outlet into a pastizzeria. This application was submitted prior to Falzon’s complaint.