I refer to Peter Gingell’s letter ‘Madliena development reducedto 20 villas’ (The Sunday Times,May 27)

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s public relations officer accused the Ramblers’ Association and Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar of misrepresenting, in their statement, the planning decision requested from the Mepa board on the Madliena development. We beg to differ: if there was any misrepresentation it was on his part and that of the Planning Directorate.

As a lesson on misrepresentations the Mepa meeting in question takes the biscuit. Such was the conceit by all concerned that even Franco Montesin, who chaired the meeting, remained unaware after one-and-a-half hours of deliberation, that the application also concerned sanctioning of illegal works. It had to be the NGOs to make him realise what exactly was being discussed, albeit to no avail.

Mr Gingell said “the application was for the amendment of a previous permit which included the reduction in the construction of 24 to 20 villas...”, and tried to give the impression that the sole intention was “lessening the cluster, having more landscaping and less development”. In truth, the reduction from 24 to 20 villas represents neither a reduction in the original footprint permitted nor any reduction in build-ing volume. On the contrary, building volume increased substantially with more excavation and the building of larger and higher basements.

Mr Gingell continued “...and to sanction minor design modifications”. None of the villas followed the approved plans, with many changes being substantial – like the addition of a swimming pool or two. Yet Mr Gingell plays down these serious infringements as “minor design modifications”. Eight of the 12 plots required sanctioning of illegalities, and all of the 12 plots involved major modifications, like excavation and development of additional basements. Enforcement orders were conspicuous by their absence.

It is difficult to tell whether it is naivete, guile or orders-from-above that motivate Mr Gingell to launch a tirade against the NGOs every time we cry “foul”.

The NGOs’ intervention during the meeting was an effort to instigate a belated reaction from Mepa against a ‘fait accomplit’, as confirmed by the Mepa auditor. Orders from above seem to be the order of the day every time illegal works assume considerable proportions.