Mepa has continued to ignore protests by residents who live in a street behind the Calypso Hotel in Marsalforn who claim they are being denied proper access to their homes.

The controversy over Triq is-Sajjied goes back some years. The road could not be completed because the owners of part of it – who also own the Calypso Hotel – had illegally sealed off land required for works.

Although Mepa pledged to take action on the matter overtwo years ago, it has so far failed to do so.

Although everyone tells us that this is an injustice, no one seems to be powerful enough to ensure that the road is constructed

Apart from placing a gate and building a wall across the road to block access to the other side of the street, the owners of the Calypso Hotel also dug up parts of the land making it more difficult for the rebuilding of the new road.

George Sacco, one of the residents pleading for action to be taken, told The Sunday Times of Malta: “I have sent volumes of letters to politicians from both major political parties and recently I also asked the Prime Minister for help.

“Before the election Labour politicians visited my home and told me that everything will be settled after the election.

“Although everyone, including Mepa, tells us that this is an injustice, no one seems to be powerful enough to ensure that the road is constructed,” he said.

Though Gozo Hotels Ltd – the operator of the Calypso Hotel – had objected to the enforcement orders issued by Mepa, the company lost an appeal in February 2012 and was ordered to remove all obstacles to the public road. Still, nothing was done and Mepa was ignored once again.

“Incredibly, despite the decision of the planning tribunal, Mepa has failed to put into effect its own enforcement decision and the situation remains unchanged,” a 45-year-old woman, who is a long-standing resident, said. “In Malta they say that might is right.

“In Gozo it’s worse as it seems that not even the Prime Minister, who is ultimately responsible for Mepa, can ensure that the law applies to everyone,” she said.

Mepa is justifying its lack of direct action by saying that it will create more danger to the public if it decides to clear the separating wall and open access to a dangerous site.