AD calls for real action over beach furniture

Alternattiva Demokratika has called on the Lands Department, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Mellieha local council and the police to take on an attitude of "decisive enforcement" regarding the cramming of beach furniture at Ghadira Bay and not just limit their action to words.

AD said it has launched a Free Beaches Campaign and called on the authorities to clamp down on operators who occupy the best spots on Malta's most popular beaches with umbrellas and sunbeds.

While expressing its satisfaction at the declared public commitment to remedy the situation created by the excessive beach furniture at Mellieha bay, AD expressed the hope that this was not another case of "lots of talk but no decisive enforcement".

AD's spokesman for the Environment and Rural Affairs, Mark Causon, explained that although the summer was nearly over, no decisive action had yet been taken.

He noted that the Director of Lands within the Justice Ministry had confirmed that kiosk operators can only place beach gear on the sand when a client requests it. But instead of laying down the furniture on request, kiosk operators were placing a considerable number of beach furniture down early in the morning ready for hiring, taking up most of the front part of the sandy beach.

Mr Causon added that in order to be taken seriously, the authorities should also state whether the operators have been fined. And if these abuses persist, permits should be withdrawn.

AD also called on the authorities to ensure full access to the foreshore in all beaches in the island.

"The Maltese coastline is too limited for the authorities to allow the development of exclusive and private beaches like the one developed in Marfa. Legally, the public has a right to access to the first 10 metres of the foreshore. AD will continue to insist that access to all beaches should remain free."