Michael Farrugia defends petrol station’s approval

Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia, who is responsible for Mepa, has defended a policy change enabling Mepa to grant a temporary permit to J. Gaffarena Service station in Qormi.

He argued people should be given an opportunity to regularise their position, adding that there was “political consensus” on the policy, which was introduced last August, empowering the planning authority to issue clearance in such cases. He also said the petrol station’s owners had been “promised a permit before the elections”.

However, Opposition spokesman Ryan Callus said: “The permit in question was turned down twice by Mepa before the elections. It is rather pathetic for Dr Farrugia to point fingers at the previous administration instead of accepting responsibility for decisions made by politically appointed public officials within the authority”.

The policy allowed J. Gaffarena Service station to get back to business this week, after it was closed down in 2008 and again in 2009 because the owners built several illegal structures, including an entire floor above the height permitted, a basement and structures near a relocated car wash.

The owners were granted “temporary clearance” to operate the legal parts of the petrol station and an adjacent car wash for three years, during which time the development is expected to comply with existing permits.

More in timesofmalta.com Premium http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140322/local/Michael-Farrugia-defends-petrol-station-s-approval.511611