Lija mayor Ian Castaldi Paris has once again been successful in stopping development in Lija.
Following his successful campaign to stop a four-storey development next to the Lija Belvedere tower on Transfiguration Avenue, he has now persuaded the DCC board to turn down an application to sanction illegal development on Merino Street.
In yesterday’s meeting, Castaldi Paris declared that the Malta Environment & Planning Authority should never sanction illegal developments, as in doing so it would be encouraging those who breach the law.
MEPA had already issued six enforcement notices against illegal developments in Lija, which included the construction of a swimming pool outside development zones. Subsequently, four applications were submitted to sanction the illegal works. Despite the case officer’s recommendation to refuse all four applications, the DCC requested the developers to submit new plans.
Irked by the decision to allow developers to present these new plans Castaldi Paris expressed his complete lack of confidence in the DCC, saying it had ignored his council’s demand to dismiss the application.
But following yesterday’s decision Castaldi Paris expressed his appreciation for the DCC board’s decision.
“These decisions are not easy but they show seriousness and zero tolerance towards illegalities,” the mayor told MaltaToday.
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