Pavements not for pedestrians

There are too many permits being issued for catering establishments to serve food and drink outside on the pavement. While this is a good idea and a very attractive feature for both the owners of these places and for the diners, what about the pedestrians? What about the wheelchair-friendly pavement? What about the parents with a pram? What about the blind person who has to weave his way around the tables and chairs? Why should a person walk on the road and, maybe, risk being hit by an oncoming car?

If permits have been issued, are the permit holders complying with the law about the number and position of the tables? Take a walk in St Julians and note how many times one has to put aside a chair just to be able to walk safely on the pavement. In Ballutta, for example, at one stage one has to step down from the pavement and hurry to the other side of the street, because a popular bar there has taken all the pavement to itself. Again, further down the road near the new hotel, we find tables and chairs taking up most of the pavement.

But the prize goes to the owner of this restaurant in Paceville (picture), who managed to build himself a wooden platform on most of the pavement and has literally taken over the whole side of this busy street used constantly by trucks and cars.

Gone are the days when a certain Assistant Commissioner of Police would do the rounds with his men and a truck, and take away the tables, chairs or benches that were obstructing the pavements.