Walking on the Strand

I refer to the letter (April 18) from Josef Grech of the Sliema local council about the difficulty one now experiences when attempting to walk along the café side of the Strand since the arrival of the smoking ban.

It is no good Mr Grech waving a piece of paper and saying that this is what should happen, he must go there and see what actually happens, and at different times of the day.

Despite there being clearly marked areas for tables and chairs, customers will move these around and also encroach on the narrow walkways. This is not helped by the owners who seem uninterested or unwilling to rearrange customers to keep these walkways clear. One also has to negotiate around displays outside these cafés plus staff and others loitering immediately in front of the premises - which is usually the designated walkway - smoking and blocking this one remaining walk area.

As a non-smoker I have inhaled almost more smoke in this area while walking along than I do on a Maltese bus journey!

I would walk on the creek side of the promenade if it wasn't for all the dogs' mess!