An appeal to try to regularise an unlicensed restaurant in Gudja was rejected by the Environment and Planning Tribunal as it was filed late.

The tribunal decided to uphold a submission by the planning authority that the appeal was filed seven months after the date prescribed by law.

Anton Scicluna lobbied for his illegally-developed restaurant to be reopened after trying to come in line with Malta Environment and Planning Authority regulations.

The restaurant, Scicluna Farmhouse, located on the outskirts of Gudja, looks very much like an ordinary residence. However, behind a makeshift reed fence lies a large catering establishment with tables, outdoor ovens, restrooms and even a dining hall with flat screen TV sets and air-conditioning units.

The development watchdog rubbished Mr Scicluna’s pleas

In its reply to the appeal, the development watchdog rubbished Mr Scicluna’s pleas, insisting the restaurant could not be regularised as it had been developed without the owner having ever applied for permits.

The planning authority had issued an enforcement notice over the property back in 2012. At the time, Mepa had noted that most of the structures on site were illegal and should be demolished.

The Malta Tourism Authority eventually ordered the place to be closed down. The move followed a report by this newspaper in August exposing the illegal operation. However, in spite of this and a string of complaints by neighbouring residents, the restaurant continued to operate for several weeks.

Asked why the property had not been demolished once it was issued with an enforcement notice, a planning authority spokesman had said the restaurant formed part of Mepa’s long list of pending notices. “Unfortunately, these things do take time,” the spokesman had said.