Mepa said this evening that its Planning Directorate is recommending refusal of a development permit for a fireworks depot at Tal Qaws on Dingli Cliffs after the Explosives Committee did not give its clearance.

Earlier in the afternoon, Dingli council protested over the reactivation of the application for the depot at the former Pulvich Explosives Industries site.

The application was withdrawn by the former justice minister last November but had since been reactivated, a spokesman for the council said.

He pointed out that this area was designated a Natura 2000 site some 18 months ago because of its scenic beauty.

When the application was withdrawn last November, Dingli Council had said it planned to create a heritage trail in the area.

Architect David Vassallo objected to Mepa on behalf of the council.

He said the main objections were that:

"The site in question forms part of an area of coastal cliffs which is specifically designated as a Special Area of Conservation of International Importance for its ecological/scientific value.

"Various specific legislation and regulations that have been formulated with the scope of protecting the status of such areas, specify clearly that no such development is to be permitted within the boundaries of these sites.

The architect said it was evident that the development being proposed in this application would detract the ecological and scientific values of the site in question and be detrimental to its status as a Special Area of Conservation.

In a statement, Mepa said that it had withdrawn this application after the Planning Directorate had  requested further information and clearances from the architect, but these were not forthcoming.

"With the Explosives Committee having not issued its clearance for this proposal, the Planning directorate’s position will remain that of recommending this application for a refusal."