Transport authority 'imposed' lower wall

The owner of a plot of land bordering Mdina Road, Qormi, yesterday filed a judicial protest in which he claimed that the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) could not impose changes in the height of a rubble wall that had already been approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa).

Emanuel Zerafa filed the protest against ADT, the Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Fratelli Basilotta srl in the First Hall of the Civil Court. He explained that he owned a plot of land in St Martin's Valley, adjacent to Mdina Road where road works were being carried out.

Mepa had authorised him to build a rubble wall that was higher than two metres on the part of his land bordering Mdina Road since there was a rain water culvert right behind the wall.

The wall was meant to be higher than two metres to prevent people jumping over the wall and falling into the culvert, thus getting hurt.

But the ADT had decided that all rubble walls along the road were to be 1.2 metres high.

The authority, he said, could not impose alterations to walls already covered by a valid permit issued by the Mepa.

Lowering the wall would negatively affect its safety and breach his rights, Zerafa said.

Dr Gavin Gulia signed the protest.