Gonzi responsible for MEPA delays - Galdes

According to Labour MP Roderick Galdes, Malta Environment and Planning Authority applicants are paying much higher fees but a lack of attention from the government has resulted in insufficient services, more bureaucracy and further delays.

“Cases presented before the Planning Appeals Court have already been delayed by nine months. Cases submitted for reconsideration by the Boards of Enivornment and Planning were removed resulting in a drastic increase in appeals without the necessary facilities and structures to meet the demand as a result of the law amendments,” Galdes said.

Galdes also said that because of this, more applicants, architects and affected citizens are giving up in trying to appeal.

“It is shameful that after more than a year after the reform came into force, the problems seem to be increasing instead of decreasing in the process of making planning decisions. These problems are occurring under the direct administration of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who is responsible for MEPA,” Galdes said.

Galdes said that the reform fell short of expectations following “plenty of boasting from  Gonzi”.

It was discovered that there are 70 pending cases which have been there for two years and still to be decided upon by the Board of Appeals. Galdes said that the Gonzi had stated that the previous Boards of Appeals were required to make pending decisions in less than six months.

“Today, the boards are paid phenomenal salaries and should thus be more efficient in processing applications,” Galdes said.