Alfred Pule has resigned from the Planning Authority board over a conflict of interest just a month after being appointed to the role.

Lovin Malta is informed that Pule had once sold a property to Joseph Portelli, the developer at the centre of a recent controversial ODZ project in Qala, Gozo.

Earlier, Manuel Delia detailed how Pule was once involved in the development of an apartment block in Lija, that was set to be developed by Portelli.

Pule was appointed to the role after Matthew Pace and Ivan Vassallo were made to resign over their own conflicts of interest.

In one of his few decisions, Pule was voted in favour of Portelli’s approved project, which was branded as “unacceptable” by the Environment Resources Authority.

After public outrage, Portelli announced that he will be “voluntarily” removing his permit to develop a villa in the countryside field.

Planning Minister Ian Borg announced the resignation of a PA member on social media earlier today, stating an MP had informed him of Pule’s conflict of interest.

While not naming Pule, Borg said that the PA board member “told him of new facts that [he] was never informed of”.

“We agreed that there were no direct or indirect interests in the decisions he presided over, we agreed that to remove all speculation and doubt, he could no longer serve on the board.”

Borg went to say that the PA was in need of reform, promising changes in the coming weeks and months.

It is as yet unclear whether Elizabeth Ellul will tender her resignation after she claimed no controversial in the aforementioned Qala development despite her husband reportedly being responsible for one of Portelli’s massive Paceville projects.

NGOs have argued that she often ignores theirs and other stakeholders opinions, while also regularly misinterpreting policies.

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