Works on the Bahrija site which had a development permit subject to major controversy some months ago, have resumed, the Ramblers’ Association said.

The association said in a statement it informed the Environment Protection Directorate of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority as soon as it got to know about the works.

It said that no permit was affixed anywhere on site.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority in August revoked the controversial permit issued to former PN president Victor Scerri to extend his planned farmhouse in Baħrija. The decision, however, did not affect an earlier permit, issued in 2003 and amended in 2005, for the reconstruction of a dilapidated farmhouse on the site.

Although that permit remained valid, the directorate had cautioned that any negative impact on the area from the work would have to be mitigated.

Mepa's auditor Joe Falzon had raised doubts about the legality of the original permit.

The RAM said today that on taking a closer look at the site they discovered that the new works had gone beyond the areas that had already been damaged before, and the water troughs that carried water to the adjacent field had been buried beneath moved clay.

It was evident, it said, that the excavator had levelled a path beyond that limit and over the water troughs with the development causing more damage to the sensitive site, interrupting part of the stream of running water.

“As far as we understood from the meeting of the Mepa board that withdrew the permit, any further works were obliged to get the permission of the Environment Directorate.

“From the Mepa site this does not appear to be the case because the applicant is appealing the withdrawal of the permit.

“Since the permit was officially withdrawn the applicant has no right to carry on works,” RAM said.

RAM asked the Enforcement Office to stop works immediately and apply the relative laws and fines for such abuse on all concerned - contractor, developer and architect.