Work in an Outside Development Zone in Mosta being carried out by the government’s Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools has continued even though it was stopped by the planning authority, Opposition planning spokesman Ryan Callus said this morning.

Addressing a news conference on site accompanied by Mosta mayor Shirley Farrugia, Mr Callus described the infringement as “scandalous” since it was being committed by the government.

Dr Farrugia noted that the planning authority had ignored the residents’ and council’s reports of the illegality, only stopping work being carried out without a permit following the intervention of Times of Malta.

After Times of Malta sent questions to the authority, an enforcement officer visited the area and stopped the foundation from proceeding with digging and clearing work intended to also create an access passageway and a gate to the field.

However it was clear on site today that the works had continued despite Mepa’s orders.

Mr Callus said this not only showed that Mepa’s enforcement directorate was asleep but it was also a reflection of the government’s lack of priority to take action against illegalities.

The foundation has applied for a permit to carry out the work, according to Mepa, even though a spokesman for FTS insisted there was no need for one.

It insisted the vehicles on site were removing illegally dumped material and restoring the arable land to its original character, in line with Mepa policies.

But when the authority sent its enforcement officer, it emerged that the work was for a proposed access passageway and a gate to the field.

While removing the debris does not require a permit, creating the passageway and gate could not be done without the authority’s permission.

The site in question is located opposite Maria Regina boys’ secondary school in Triq il-Biedja.