Portelli called out on timeline of works stoppage near Paceville collapse

Updated 2.20pm

A company owned by developer Joseph Portelli has been called out on claims that works on a site next to a Paceville building collapse stopped on May 7. 

The multi-storey building in the heart of Paceville collapsed on Wednesday night, just hours after 32 student residents were evacuated due to safety concerns. 

Momentum chairman Arnold Cassola claimed Portelli company Excel Trading was "lying through its teeth" when claiming that works stopped on May 7. 

The party posted two videos of works purportedly being carried out on May 27 and June 2. 

Times of Malta also received a video indicating works were carried out on May 30. 

A spokesperson for Excel Trading clarified that while on May 7, works adjacent to Tania Flats were concluded, works on the rest of the site continued. 

"Keep in mind it’s a large site," the spokesperson said. 

In its statement, Momentum demanded zero tolerage for developers who "play about with people's lives and lie to cover up must be banned from continuing to risk our lives."

Excel maintains that the collapse was not caused by any works commissioned by the company. 

The developer says this photo proves works stopped next to the Tania Flats on May 7.

"Excel Group categorically denies the false, malicious and libelous claims by Arnold Cassola that works adjacent to the collapsed Tania Flats continued after May 7th," it said.

"The fact is that since May 7th no works were carried out adjacent to building which collapsed yesterday. 

"This is very easy to verify through CCTV footage which the police are expected to have collected by now."

It said that rather than cause the collapse its own architect acted swiftly to save 32 lives when he noticed shifts to the nearby building, reported them and insisted on an evacuation.

Discussions were held on Monday, during which it emerged that the building had long-standing structural issues. After this meeting a precautionary stop notice was issued, Excel said in a statement. 

The incident unfolded at about 10.30pm, when a large part of the apartment block Tania Flats on Triq Paceville collapsed into a heap in the heart of the entertainment mecca.  

Times of Malta understands the residents were all English language students. The Building and Construction Authority said they had been given alternative accommodation and help "to mitigate the consequences of this incident".

The construction site adjacent to the collapsed building spans a large area intersecting Triq Paceville and Triq Gort. It previously housed the popular Avenue restaurant. 

Developers obtained clearance to carry out demolition works at the site in late March, as part of a permit to clear the site and build a 125-bedroom hotel. Another, as-yet pending PA application for the site seeks to instead build dozens of apartments there.