Court halts MEPA from carrying out enforcement action in Birzebbugia fields

A direct enforcement operation by MEPA against an illegal scrap yard in an ODZ area in Ix-Xerriek, limits of Birzebbugia was cut short earlier this morning by a provisional court order.

On Wednesday, officials from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) enforcement directorate started the operation to remove tons of illegally dumped material, including amongst others, scrapped vehicles, white goods and tyres.

The dumped material turned a number of archeological fields into an illegal scrap yard.

The site was blocking access to a country lane that leads to the fields, and also forms part of a larger area scheduled for its archeological importance.

Given the extent of the illegality, the enforcement action was scheduled to last a number of days. But, earlier today, the operation was cut shot following a court mandate presented by the contravenor’s lawyer.  

MEPA’s Enforcement Directorate were being assisted by members of the Administrative Law Enforcement Section.

Earlier this week, the Authority also carried out enforcement action on a vacant site within a residential in Triq William Lassell in Fgura. Over the past year this site has been subject to an accumulation of illegal dumping to the detriment of residents living in the vicinity of the site.

This enforcement action was carried out in agreement with the local council, who agreed to utilize some of the Urban Improvement Funds allotted to the locality of Fgura.

When the Authority recuperates the expenses of this direct action from the site owner, it will refund them back into the Urban Improvement Fund for Fgura.