Updated - Adds Mepa statement

Mepa has stopped the dumping of sludge in a bathing area in Qawra after bathers expressed their disgust this morning. It blamed St Paul's Bay Council for what had happened and said the activity was not authorised.

The bathers protested as a truck  turned up three times in the inner part of Qawra, near the boathouses, and dumped what looked like sludge, onto the quay and the sea.

Some people protested with the driver, who claimed to have official permission.  They said the sludge also included rubbish such as bottles and tyres.

Officials from Mepa and St Paul's Bay Council as well as the police then turned up.

The Mayor of St Paul's Bay, Mario Salerno, explained that the material was dredged from elsewhere in the bay because it was obstructing a slipway. The material was then meant to be dumped back in the bay as directed by Mepa but, he said, the contractor was told to remove waste.

MEPA STATEMENT

In a statement, Mepa said:

"The local council, some weeks back, had requested authorization for the removal of sand from around the slipway in question. While the Authority did not object given that the activity was considered to be maintenance work, it however requested that prior to the works commencing, it (the council) was to provide the Authority with further relevant details. These details were never forthcoming from the local council.

"Mepa strongly condemns the behaviour of the local council for carrying out this dumping activity without the necessary authorization and required monitoring.

"Following reports early this morning that this activity was being carried out, the Authority’s enforcement directorate immediately went on site to stop this activity. At no point was the Authority monitoring the activity as was reported, since it was not informed that the activity had started, enforcement officers who went on site were there actually to stop this activity."    

The sea water 90 minutes after sludge was dumped.