The authorities yesterday swooped down on a number of Sliema cafés whose pavement furniture was found to be overstepping the limits laid down in their permits, much to the ire of owners and the satisfaction of residents.

Chairs, tables, planters and awnings were removed in an operation carried out by the Malta Tourism Authority, Lands Department, police and Works Division, sending a warning to similar establishments elsewhere.

Officials visited about 20 bars and cafés along the Sliema seafront and found some form of irregularity in 10 of them.

The MTA's policy assurance directory Frank Farrugia said that although the authority encouraged cafés to place tables and chairs outside, it was imperative that these were sanctioned by the proper authorities and proprietors abided by their permits and the law. So if an outlet was given a specific footprint for tables and chairs, it should take up no more than the specified space.

The planters outside Giorgio's Café were sawn off. Angele Farrugia, whose husband owns the café, called the action ridiculous since the planters were an embellishment and an environmental asset. They had even saved the life of a customer one day when a car crashed into them, she said.

She also insisted that she had never been asked by the MTA to remove the planters.

Mr Farrugia argued that when a permit was breached, neighbours were inconvenienced by the obstacles and a danger was posed to passers-by.

He said the authority had received a lot of complaints, especially from residents. Its first action had been to conduct a survey, together with the Lands Department, and to give a verbal warning to the owners.

A letter was then hand delivered to each shop asking them to regularise their position and giving them further warning that unless they did so, action would be taken after a 15-day period.

Yesterday, all the establishments were warned that an MTA official would return to check they were still in order and if not, procedures would be initiated to revoke their permit to have outside chairs and tables.

Further breaches of their licence would attract a fine of between €1,164 ((Lm500) and €23,293 (Lm10,000).

Mr Farrugia gave warning that the authority would be visiting other localities in Malta and Gozo to do the same.

As café owners protested the action, Sliema resident Joe Camilleri welcomed the fact that the entrance to his block of apartments had been unblocked from pavement furniture belonging to the Costa Café. He said he had been protesting about the situation for ages.

"The café was obstructing access. At least now there is space for an ambulance to park and we can load and unload stuff. The situation is now also much better for wheelchair users and people pushing prams."

Mr Camilleri said that what needed to be dealt with next were the many gas cylinders kept by restaurants in the vicinity which residents felt posed a danger.

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