Claudia Calleja
Another warning over excess street furniture soon
Several establishments in popular tourism areas are to be served with formal notices by the Lands Department asking them to abide by their encroachment permits and remove any excess street furniture, The Times has learnt.
The action will follow a swoop on Sliema seafront cafés and restaurants last month after residents complained that pavements were being blocked by chairs, tables and other furniture.
The Malta Tourism Authority's (MTA) director of quality assurance, Frank Farrugia, explained that the authority, the department and the police are working together to ensure that pavements in "high density tourism zones" were left clear of any encumbrance.
He said the authorities are currently focusing on restaurants, cafés and other outlets in areas such as Paceville, Buġibba, Qawra, Marsalforn and Xlendi. The authorities are in the process of serving various establishments in these areas with a formal notice asking them to comply with their encroachment permits and remove extra tables, chairs, awnings and so on.
The establishments that hold encroachment permits and have furniture "bursting at the seams" will be given 15 days to abide by their permits. Establishments which have no licence and still put furniture out will be given a maximum of seven days to remove it.
Should they fail to abide by the notice, officers will intervene to remove the furniture and the licences will be revoked, Mr Farrugia warned.
Three weeks ago establishments along the Strand and Tigné seafront in Sliema were served with a formal notice and given 15 days to comply. Following the elapse of time representatives from MTA, Lands Department, police and the Works Division intervened to remove extra furniture. Officials had visited about 20 bars and cafés along the Sliema seafront and found some form of irregularity in 10 of them.
Since then, Mr Farrugia said, the situation in Sliema has remained under control thanks to the help of the police and the cooperation of the establishment owners themselves.
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Angele Zammit
Jul 10th 2008, 02:14
This is ridiculous. I felt ashamed to be gozitan after this night in marsalforn. A dozen police collecting plants that are invested by owners of restaurants to make a beautiful ambience with tourists watching the show. Shouldnt the goverment invest in tourist resorts and decorate areas which are most visited by tourists himself ? The high season for us in Gozo starts in July and ends in October unlike Malta, like Sliema and Valletta its always bustling with tourists all year round. For us in Gozo we need to make the most of 2 months to pay our bills of a whole year! But no the goverment decides to invade marsalforn in the 2 months we work most. Where are the MTA in January, February, March, April, May and the rest of the months when all restaurants are empty? Well done MTA see if you can find jobs for the workers we employ in our summer season which of course we wouldnt be needing anymore.
E Degiorgio
Jul 8th 2008, 21:04
About time this happens in Malta. Hope MTA will keep up the process. Please can representatives of MTA have a walk around Valletta as well to check tables, chairs and notices which owners take the liberty to place how/where they feel like? Can wardens as well not close an eye when they see that these are even blocking parking spaces. Valletta is a beautiful city we should be proud of. Tourists (esp one day visitors) would like first and foremost to see and take photos of our typical streets and buildings not umbrellas growing like mushrooms. I don't think tables and umbrellas are any different from ours in their country.
We are trying to "revive" Valletta by allowing bars/restaurants take out tables and chairs, any size, any type but we are sending away potential buyers who could populate Valletta and make it feel alive. Residents as tax payers are deined access to their streets and they are denied the right to enjoy what they paid for. I kindly appeal to policy makers/ decisions to take into account the interests of third parties when issuing a permit/license.
Well done MTA.
L Galea
Jul 8th 2008, 20:55
C Dittrich you are wrong.
This has been going on for a very long time even before they even dreamt of banning smoking which is one of the best things that Government did.
Pity the enforcement is somewhat lacking.
c.t. busuttil
Jul 8th 2008, 18:28
WELL DONE MTA. It has to start somewhere. I would not have chosen the peak tourist season though, both for the business men and also the hot conditions that the workers have to put up with to remove more illegal furnishings. C Busuttil Sliema
C. Dittrich
Jul 8th 2008, 18:10
It seems nobody notices or wants to notice, that the street furniture problem started with the smoking ban. Before these cafes, bars and restaurants did not need the space to accommodate their customers. Pass by at these establishments and you will see that inside they are almost empty and outside they are fully occupied. If there would be no smoking ban, than there would be no problem with the street furniture.
Victor Dimech
Jul 8th 2008, 17:37
What about Valletta bars/restaurants that are occopying pedestrian areas like Fredrick Street corner whit Archbishop street.The Valletta police knows about the problem but it seems they are unable to do anything about it .Maybe the outgoing Mayor can have a look in the matter after all he is always passing that area on his way home.by the way Fredick Street is an alley compared to other Valletta streets.I wonder what will happen in an emergency or we have to wait for an accident before taking action.
Charles Camilleri
Jul 8th 2008, 17:24
Truly as John Bundy said. This is an island of Micky Mouse. First the authorities through lack of enforcement and inspection let the problem mushroom, then they try to solve it by urging the abusers to comply with the permits. This is a pattern which has been going on for a long time and the reason why Malta is in such mess. Look at the so called boat houses around our shores. An an other problem is creeping up. The bus terminal has developed into an other Monti . Is it possible this has not been noticed by Authorities? Now we have an other policy. Instead of taking the abuses to court we simply tell to regulate his position. Is this right? Is this justice with those who did not break the terms of their permits? Government is giving the wrong signal. That is why the Maltese are called indisciplined people because we never had a Government that had the guts to enforce the law. it is a pity.
Victor Dimech
Jul 8th 2008, 17:17
what about Valletta bars/restaurants that are occupying pedestrian areas like Fredrick Str corner with Archbishop it seems that the Valletta police know about it but they are unable to take action.maybe the outgoing Valletta Mayor can have a look at the situation he passes quite often from that area on his way home.By the way Fredrick Str is only an alley compared to a normal Valletta str.I wonder what will happen in an emergency or as usual we have to wait for an accident to take action.
Charles Matutu
Jul 8th 2008, 16:23
What about RESIDENTS of Valletta, especially those living in narrow streets? Can residents with a disability access their homes? Can young women with babies in buggies access their flat? Can residents live with the smell of food and smoking and chit-chat of racist content under their windows till 1 or 2 am? Can the authorities take some form of action in Frederick Street to remove chairs, tables and flower pots of certain establishments who seem to have bought their share of the street? No more chairs, tables and flower pots in narrow streets! We have a right to live!
Joe Tabone-Adami
Jul 8th 2008, 15:25
May I again suggest - personally to Mr Farrugia, this time - that the authorities turn their sights to bars and catering places operating in residential areas of Sliema (and elsewhere, if need be). I think they will be surprised at the situation in full swing! Not to mention absence of price-lists in some of them, of course.
L Galea
Jul 8th 2008, 11:46
Can the authorities have a good look at Marsaskala and swoop down on the various restaurants and coffee shops that are still occupying the pavement and even under the pavement, including part of the playing field near Summer Nights with their chairs, tables and flower pots?
Claude Calleja
Jul 8th 2008, 11:30
What about cafes in Valletta which obstuct beautiful buildings with all their tables and umbrellas!
A. Camilleri
Jul 8th 2008, 10:28
Let's hope that the arrangements announced will be the start of 'law enforcement' all round! We may then all become law abiding and get ourselves better organised, yes all round.
Anne Marie Kissaun
Jul 8th 2008, 10:14
May I suggest you check the Sliema seafront again, corner with Tower Rd? Tables and chairs were still standing at the front entrance of the shop up to last week and ever since the swoop. I do not see why especially that the shop has the most space since he is at a corner. Also, at the Strand, nothing seems to have changed much. Unless extravagant fines are charged, and continuous spot checks are done, things will not change as arrogance reigns. May I also suggest that you have a look in Floriana. A bar has just opened in front of the Lion fountain, and there too tables and chairs are occupying the pavement. Last but not least, whilst at it, please have another look at Ghar-id-Dud and Fontadir. Same problem and these are Kiosks and not coffee shops/restaurants.