Gozo outlets again warned to respect encroachment conditions
Officials from the Lands Department returned to Marsalforn and Xlendi to again remove illegal street furniture from public areas, just a week after the same enforcement action was taken, The Times has learnt.
This time the tables, chairs and planters removed were seized and taken to a store where they will remain until establishment owners pay for the double enforcement action.
Non-compliant establishments were also served with a notice warning them that their encroachment permits will be withdrawn if they persist with the illegal action and do not abide by their permit conditions.
Earlier this month, various establishments in the Gozitan tourist centres were served with a formal notice giving them 15 days to comply with their encroachment permits and remove any excess street furniture from the way.
When the time elapsed, officials from the Malta Tourism Authority, the Lands Department and police officers carried out inspections and removed excess furniture.
However, the authorities were alerted that some establishments had put tables, chairs and planters back where they were in breach of their encroachment permits, the Director General-designate at the Government Property Division, Paul Miruzzi, said when contacted.
Officials conducted another inspection at the Marsalforn establishments on Wednesday and in Xlendi yesterday and served owners with a notice warning them that, next time round, their encroachment permits would be revoked.
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C. Dittrich
Jul 18th 2008, 19:40
The street furniture problem started with the smoking ban. Before these cafes, bars and restaurants did not need the space to accommodate their customers. Why these establishments do not speak up? Is it not insane, that they break a law not to break the no smoking law?
carmelo briffa
Jul 18th 2008, 17:50
If it is a LAW, why it is not for every one who is using pavement as part of the restaurants...On sundays when I go to Marsaxlokk I have to walk either inthe confussion of human traffic between stalls or walk on the road as the footpats are serving as restaurants and not for SAFE WALKING.....hope to see some justice here in Malta got o Bugibba full of them have they been sent a warning letters like the ones they got in Gozo. Let us clean Malta. and all police should open their eyes not only for traffic but to everyone who is breaking the Law.
Lawrence Camilleri
Jul 18th 2008, 16:55
Just a question to which I want an answer from the Lands Dept , NTO and ADT at least - Why Victory Square in Xaghra, blocked pavements and the taking over of part of the Square itself is of no concern to all of them? Why double lines are simply ignored and the traffic is blocked from moving freely from the Square to Church Street? Vehicles frequently nearly collide and even collided, people were knocked down there and the base (steps) of the stone Cross damaged. Do we have to wait for worse happenings to take action and relieve the population of Xaghra from this danger?
Justin Fenech
Jul 18th 2008, 11:27
What about Rabat? they build extensions to pavements to accommodate tables and take up parking places! Or are we not important enough to enforce the law?
A.E. Camilleri
Jul 18th 2008, 10:37
Well done. Please do likewise in the principal tourist areas of Sliema, Qawra, Bugibba, Gzira, and on a regular basis. Some sign of 'Law enforcement' is evident, at long last. Keep it up.