It is heartening to learn that the Environment and Resources Authority handled no less than a dozen “enforcement-related” cases during the Christmas-New Year shutdown period, (‘ERA enforcement function was operative in festive season’, The Sunday Times of Malta, January 21). It would appear these were restricted to planning contraventions.

Despite the authority’s best intentions, the telephone number listed on its homepage for the public to call in case of environmental emergencies could not, in at least one instance, be reached on December 26.

On that day, two calls were made to the ERA number from the beach at Selmun at 12.57pm (“Press one to continue in Maltese”) and at 12.58pm (“Press two to continue in English”). In both cases the recorded voice informed the caller that the offices were closed until January 2.

Imagine my disappointment when being unable to get through to anyone from the ERA on Boxing Day to report off-roading on the clay slopes. This breach of environmental regulations takes place on a regular basis yet we rarely hear of the off-roaders being challenged. Nature used to be better protected by the environment authority.