After No Fines Issued, Caravan Business Relocates To Another Natura2000 Site
After ERA and other authorities failed to take sufficient action, the owner of a caravan business which was making thousands off a Natura2000 site in Mellieħa relocated to another Natura2000 area in the locality, in Mistra.
While ERA assured that it will give fines if VanCation Malta doesn’t relocate, it failed to take into account the months of illegal operation. Until now, no fines have been issued.
Rather it appears that ERA’s warnings have done nothing to deter the operations. VanCation Malta is just one of many caravans that take advantage of Malta’s non-existent enforcement of people abusing public spaces.
The Environment and Resources Authority has already been informed about VanCation Malta’s relocation to another Natura2000 site, and it assured it will take action shortly. Questions sent to Sacco regarding the location have been left unanswered.
Lovin Malta previously reported on an illegally parked caravan within a special area of conservation in Mellieħa that was obstructing the public place on a permanent basis.
However, it later turned out that VanCation Malta, owned by letting specialist Fabian Sacco, was operating from a special area of conservation without the necessary permits from the Environment and Resources Authority.
VanCation Malta uploaded its correspondence with the Malta Tourism Authority, where it said that since it is a new venture, there is no framework in place to grant permits.
“The definitions of both accommodation and holiday premises are limited to buildings and not to accommodation similar to that provided in campers. It is not within MTA’s authority to take any legal action in this respect. MTA is following the case with the competent authorities,” MTA told Lovin Malta.
That means that the business is exploiting a loophole within the law, despite operating in rental accommodation.
So, what is a Natura2000 site?
Natura2000 is a network of core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species and some rare natural habitat types which are protected in their own right.
In 2008, the Mistra area, including the bay and the valley, was included in a list of EU protected sites, as approved by the European Commission. According to ERA, there are currently 37 terrestrial Natura2000 sites designated in Malta.
Within a Natura2000 site, a number of activities cannot take place in order to safeguard the habitat and species in the area, such as camping and setting fires.
Although the area of Mistra falls within Natura2000, illegal caravans are often permitted in the area, with not much enforcement present.
Mistra Natura2000
The abuse of caravan owners is not a new issue, there have been decades worth of complaining but authorities continuously refuse to take action year after year.
There are also numerous campsites around Malta where caravans are able to operate, which include areas around Aħrax, Mosta, and Armier.
From an environmental law perspective, it is illegal to operate a business or set fires in an area of special conservation and requires a permit both from ERA as well as the concerned local council.
What do you make of this recent development?
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