Updated: Mayor explains Bethlehem f'Ghajnsielem issues with Mepa

 The Mayor of Ghajnsielem, Francis Cauchi, said this afternoon that a meeting had been held with the chairman of Mepa with a view to speeding up procedures regarding the Bethlehem f'Ghajnsielem Nativity Village, alhough he reiterated that it was now very difficult for the popular event to be held this year. He said that certain statements issued by Mepa were misleading. "In its statement, Mepa said that the full application will include a number of permanent facilities to accommodate the operations of the Local Council, other facilities and structures while adding that this is a an ODZ area. One might easily get the impression that these facilitates will be built outside the development zone when the truth is that these will be built within the development scheme outside the boundaries where the Bethlehem f'Ghajnsielem event was being held. It must be said that these facilitites include a visitors center that during the Christmas period will be partially turned into a grotto," Mr Cauchi said. "Mepa said that in September 2011 it had asked the Local Council to submit fresh plans and that the latest information required was submitted in ...