The public must have access

Fomm ir-Riħ is one of the most beautiful bays on the islands, if not the most beautiful. It always attracted a lot of people for its beauty and serenity. The bay is never crowded because access to it is difficult but a small community frequents the bay in summer and in winter many nature lovers descend on the bay. In the late 1960s the owner of the villa on top of the cliff closed the path to the public and for a time there was no access to the beach.

In the early 1970s the authorities reached or imposed a compromise with the owner to construct a new path down to the beach.

It was quite a big job because a narrow path had to be cut on the limestone cliff on the right side of the bay and a path constructed on the way down. Further down, where the clay cliff begins, another path was cut and access was restored to the beach that was used by the public since the 1970s.

Since then the land has changed hands many times and recently it has a new owner who wants the beach all to himself. Last year he constructed a road down to the beach which was reported in the media and had a stop order issued by Mepa. Yet, the road is now complete and being used. I am also informed that he applied to legalise the road with this authority. Also, this year he erected a lot of "This land is private" signs and put up a gate just before the clay slopes begin, thus closing a public path to the beach, which is illegal. With this gate the beach is closed to the public.

The Ramblers Association is asking the government for the old path by the villa, which was taken over in the 1960s, to be restored to the public. If this request is not granted, at least the compromise reached by the authorities in the 1970s should be honoured and the path repaired by the owner, not closed. Mepa has been informed about this and I hope that the owner will be stopped from taking over this public beach.