Campaign to claw back public land for walks draws support

It is far better to stop promoting Malta as a destination for country walks because visitors are often met with innumerable "keep out" notices that are a downright insult to ramblers, weathered rambler Lino Bugeja says.

"Such unceremonious encounters will most probably undo all the public relations and advertising effort that the Malta Tourism Authority puts in," he argued.

Marching on with his campaign urging the authorities to put their foot down once and for all by publishing official demarcation lines identifying public land, Mr Bugeja complained that nature lovers often come up against uncouth persons who often scare them off with the most colourful language, if not backed with shotguns and fierce dogs.

The Council of Europe is currently debating how to interpret what the Council is calling "landscape heritage", which means that the public would also have access to certain private areas.

Mr Bugeja said that while the Malta Environment and Planning Authority lays down that the public has a right of access to land up to 10 metres from the shoreline, the distance that the public can walk along the cliffs is not specified.

"Should not the 10 metre benchmark apply as well when one goes for a walk along the cliffs," Mr Bugeja argued.

Noting, for example, that a site plan he obtained from the Land Registry showing Ras Ir-Raheb promontory does not indicate the historic Roman remains there, Mr Bugeja said members of a ramblers association could assist the registry to fill in missing data.

"The Roman remains at Ras ir-Raheb, documented so well by Mario Buhagiar in Melita Historica (Vol. X No. 1, 1988, pp. 69-87) are also not indicated in a Mepa site plan of the area."

Mr Bugeja has had what he described as "a massive response from readers" following a recent appeal he made in The Times for the setting up of a ramblers association and to end the "no entry" signs scattered all over the countryside, particularly areas with spectacular views and archaeological remains.

"The response by readers with SMSs, letters and phone calls was tremendous, which goes to show how much the Maltese are fed up to their nose with the way they are unable to enjoy the countryside at leisure.

"In the meantime, various ministries have promised their full support.

"The Ramblers Association of Great Britain has provided us with their expertise, especially on basics of footpath laws; walkers and the law and freedom to roam," Mr Bugeja said.

In order to keep up the momentum of the campaign, a provisional statute for the setting up of an association is being compiled with a view to setting up a Ramblers Association of Malta.

"Our aim is to open up the countryside as a means of a healthy lifestyle to improve the quality of life.

"The government should, without further delay, publish a definitive map of public pathways," he added.

Mr Bugeja may be contacted on 2163 3126, 9942 4030 or via e-mail at oakev@maltanet.net.

Appealing to the authorities to halt the spread of unauthorised "no entry" signs, Mr Bugeja strongly pointed out that "no entry" and "private property" signs ought to be backed by a permit by the Lands Department.

As a classic instance where good intentions were not enough, Mr Bugeja said that one of the Mepa desk diaries showed special conservation areas with the bottom line reading "We live in a beautiful place, don't we".

"But how truly do we live in a beautiful place when one goes for a walk in the countryside and is 'welcomed' by such notices as il-kampanja gawdiha mit-triq which loosely translated means 'enjoy the countryside from the road'?"