Mepa oversight delays hotel extension decision

The planning authority forgot to find out whether an environment impact report was required for the requested extension of 102 rooms for the Ramla Hotel in Marfa.

When contacted, a Malta Environment and Planning Authority spokesman confirmed that during last Thursday's meeting, the board had to take a decision on the full development application for an extension of the four-star hotel in Marfa.

However, an hour before the meeting, it was noted that the planning directorate had forgotten to put the application through a screening process in order to determine whether an environmental impact report was required.

During the meeting, chairman Austin Walker apologised to the developers for the oversight and promised to give them an answer within a week.

By today's board meeting, the planning directorate will have to speed up the process to screen the application.

Mr Walker promised to inform the developers of the directorate's decision and added that if no impact report was required, the board would decide on the application during today's meeting.