Beach concession abuse

Summer is back and some readers are already writing to complain about the abuse by operators who hire out sun beds and umbrellas at local beaches.

Alistair Bugeja (July 6) describes the situation at Qawra but the abuse is rampant at all major beaches. He also questions what policy/regulations apply.

This subject was comprehensively covered last summer through various letters and articles. A representative of the relevant authority had also written to explain the current regulation/s. If I recall correctly, it was stated that an operator who owns a beach concession has the right to set up sun beds/umbrellas within the confines of his concession, irrespective of whether these are under hire or not, i.e. not necessarily upon a customer request.

On the other hand, operators with no beach concession, but with the necessary permit to offer beach items for hire, should only set up sun beds/umbrellas upon a request for the service by customers.

I regularly frequent various parts of Ghadira Bay and unless all this stretch of beach has been granted as a concession to operators, then it is quite evident that the current regulations are being abused. By 9.30 each morning practically all the beach is already taken up by neat rows of empty sun beds and umbrellas. A miserly corridor is normally left "free" between one operator's umbrellas and the next and families with their own deckchairs and umbrellas have to squeeze like sardines into this space.

It is very important to ensure that a good and efficient hiring service is available at all our beaches. At the same time we must also consider that our beaches are restricted in both number and size and hence operators should not be allowed to take over more space than is allowed under their respective permit. More enforcement is required to ensure that operators who should only set up umbrellas/sun beds upon a customer request are actually adhering to such a provision. Controls should also be made to see that operators who own a beach concession remain within the boundaries of their concession.