Heavier caseload for Mepa

Seventy-two stop and enforcement notices, 37 in Malta and 35 in Gozo, were issued last month by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Sixty-one enforcement cases were sanctioned while another 40 cases were resolved when owners spontaneously decided to remove the illegal development.

During January, 15 enforcement cases were withdrawn by Mepa, with direct action taken to remove 15 illegal billboards.

Another 72 stop and enforcement notices were issued in December, 40 enforcement cases were sanctioned and 14 cases resolved by the owners.

During the month 11 cases were withdrawn by Mepa and no direct action was carried out.

Between December and January, Mepa determined 797 applications and received 408 new applications in December and another 746 last month.

The net pending caseload at the end of January was 3,426.