Inspectors remove illegal street furniture in Marsascala

About time the authorities showed their teeth and that abuses are seriously dealt with. More of the same ..... but keep these checks going on a regular basis. May be also time to make laws even harsher - when it hits the pocket very hard, people seem to take notice then!

I really hope some high authority person reads the comments being written with this article.

It is clear from the comments that people are thirsty for the rule of law.
It is further clear that the amount of infringement is sizable and not amongst a few entrapreneurs.
The powers that be, have closed an eye (or two, assuming they ever had eyes to see) way too long.
Policing has to be frequent so that no businessman becomes a repeat offender.

Although we all pleased and appreciate that the Qawra - Bugibba Promenade, will during the evenings be closed for traffic, and in addition to all the illegal street furniture placed haphazardly on the pavements, one must not forget the number of street vendor / hawkers selling who occupy their pitch early in the afternoons, blocking half the width of the pavements! I bet they are all VAT registered by the receipts they issue with every sale. I am in favour of the Kiosks placing a number of tables on public land as it creates an atmosphere but as long as this conforms with the law, and as long as they provide toilet facilities,just like all the licensed bars who have to pay annual license fees! EQUALITY FOR ALL PLEASE, and not just for the few who abide by our laws!

For those who have kids and want to give a live demonstration of what is anarchy, please visit Marsxlokk:
restaurants blocking the pedestrian area all the length of 'Xatt is-Sajjieda'. The cherry on the cake is a particular restaurant near the playground, completely blocking a single way road!

Mr Joseph Spiteri is right. May I also add that inspections should also be made in The Strand (between Manwel Dimech Street and St. Agatha Street) Sliema.

A good move but who is checking what happens late in the evening. It's of limited effect during the day. It's the evenings and nights in the weekends, starting Thursday!, that bars and restaurants all over Malta do whatever they want even in residential areas. Their permits should be withdrawn if they are fined on two occasions. After all as somebody else has said, the fine is less than just one evenings takings so they are not bothered. Let's clean up this country from this corruption. We've gone to the dogs!

Good move, please do something about the beaches as well. We have very few good beaches why should they be encumbered with tents and umbrellas. Take Gnejna, some six tents have used the bay for weeks on end. It is so unhygenic. And if one stops and think about the illegal rooms (I cannot imagine they are directly connected with the drainage system in Malta ) around the bay one would never swim in this bay.

On the subject of 'standards of living' in the area, i have asked the Mayor of M/skala for a skip for our street which is long overdue and the road surface is .... well it isn't!!
Lets see what happens... nothing i expect.

WOW! VERRRRY tough! Only hitch...the timing and dating were a bit wrong! Those Lands inspectors should have come to Marina Street, Marsascala Saturday evening, at about 9 pm.
If the result is to be anything close to that in Sliema, Xlendi and Marsalforn, then this is all white wash.

Well done to the authorities, but hope thy dont get their furniture oout again next sunday. Kindly also note the parking, some of them makes chairs do no one parks infron oftheir restaurants. Thanks

I bet that everything will be as usual by tomorrow. That is what happened in Gozo.

@ Victor Vella

Good point. Noone has the right to go beyond his beach concession area as in the case of Ghadira. The bay's front area is litterally congected with umbrellas pre-planted before any demand for the service.

Expected action to be taken :
a. buses that leave patches of diesel, particularly in bus termini all over the Island.

b.Sun umbrellas and beach furniture in popular beaches put up by beach establishments and that leave little or no space for maltese families and tourists alike to enjoy their fair share of access to the beach.

c. Food outlets - Restaurants and Take aways - that still fail to display menus/prices

Splendid job! First a blitzkrieg on the Sliema Ferries, and now a lightining strike on Marsascala. Perpetrators be warned!

The LAW should apply to one and all at Marsascala. A case in point is that a particular food outlet ignored today's warnings, thus obstructing Triq is-Salini near Triq il-Qaliet. It isn't fair to work that way. The whole pavement (to be used by the public in general) is occupied by the owners who show funny and ugly faces whenever a pedestrian "enters" the zone!!! Authorities please note and act NOW!!!!

Carmelo Zarb
Marsascala

let us do our part. we shall report these instances and everyone will benefit from these actions. once i saw a writing on a car, it said "a better world begins with me" so let us all start doing that little effort and you will see that you feel very satisfied.

Bugibba and Qawra indeed !! Outlets next to the police station barely leave room for single pedestrians in Indian file to negotiate the pavement from very early in the morning til midnight, because most of the pavement extensions on the road are taken by street furniture. Those with pushchairs and wheelchairs have no other alternative except risk their life on the road.

One particular outlet in Tourists Street installed its own wooden platform to make an extension to the pavement, complete with railing, flower pots and lighting poles.

No one has yet remarked that the habit adopted by many outlets with pavement extensions to erect barriers around the perimeter of the same extensions, complete with large glass panes or wrought iron work fences - leaving no single opening - poses a very dangerous hazard because pedestrians on the road cannot jump quickly to safety when oncoming traffic threatens their wellbeing. This becomes especially true when very long perimeters are enclosed in this way. A walk through Bugibba/Qawra would reveal a number of these.

As the saying goes, offer them a finger and they take your whole hand.

And while they are at it can they remove all the illegal boathouses !

Another good step in the right direction. Keep it up ALL OVER MALTA & GOZO. Just to back what some of the earlier contributors have indicated, get regular checkings at Tigne Seafront, as well as Tigne Street/Hughes Hallett Street; how can a pub be allowed to have its tables & chairs literally on the street? If this place is so authorised, then have the pavement directly opposite the pub enlargened sufficiently to allow the number of tables/chairs permitted. Also, there is an establishment at Tigne Seafront that has its tables/chairs also on the road, and not as its competitors, on the pavement; why? One final suggestion: have each establishment place its relevant permit (with its number of tables/chairs) placed clearly on its facade for ALL to note. Oh yes, and how about those who have taken up residence in Armier, Ghadira, and illegally in what is termed as 'boat-houses' in Bugibba, Qawra etc? All give such a disgraceful image of our islands! Another example of the lack of 'LAW ENFORCEMENT'.

Good work. But it will take ages for the inspectors to go all over the island. Should it not also be done, day in day out, including Sundays, by the Police? They are there every day to see that the law is observed.

While they are at it and in order for them to be fair, can the lands department clear away all those umbrellas from beaches and open the beaches to the public, another point please, could you make them remove all the umbrella stands left on the beach overnight.

While you're at it, can you check Pretty Bay in B'Buga. It seems part of the promenade and walkways were done to satisfy bars.

A particular restaurant in Sliema strand, near Bisazza street, seems to be above the law. During the weekends,especially in the evening, no adequate space is left for pedestrians to make proper use of the pavement. The owners of this restaurant are not satisfied with the space reserved for their tables and chairs opposite; they also put tables and chairs right under the doorstep, thereby partly blocking the passageway. Inspections should be carried out, especially during these times.

Good Work finally!!! Hope these inspectors come also to Birzebbugia

Good job, yes:

1. But 75% of the instances, the same furniture will be out in the same place within the batting of an eyelid;

2. I ALWAYS manage to pass on the pavement. and if there is an obstacle in my way, I insist on passing!!!!!! I did it plenty of times and loved seeing the patrons having to get up and make way for me. and then complain to the restaurateur. I suggest you all do likewise, especially wheelchairs.

3. What about other law-breakers and encroaching? The bays and the beaches?
And what about the illegal rooms at Ghadira, Armier, etc ....?
As well as the dug-out shelters within the bastions, in Floriana???????

They should ALL be removed! Let's get to the end of this Wild Wild West mentality!

And Gozo, too! Many of them there thing they are away from the law!

Some time ago the police also swooped on the entrance to Valletta, by the bus terminus, and got the owners of the kiosks there to clear the pavement they had illegally encroached upon to display their wares. This they did after a lot of arguing with the police inspector in charge of the operation. But today we're back to square one and the pavements have once again been occupied by these kiosk owners. I think the next move is to revoke their permit and not just issue measely fines and warnings.

Can we get the same treatment for the illegal hides of hunters spread around the whole of Malta? Are these covered by a Mepa permit ? I mean, to change petty things around a house you need a permit, to build ugly looking hides, is it ok ? Apart from them being makeshift and dangerous, children driven to them out of a childish sense of adventure and risk life and limb if the makeshift roofing collapses on them.

Well done Jason! But are the extended alcahol bars in streets and squares during village festa going to be let operating, and even selling spirits to minors without permission? Who is going to stop this ridiculous illegality?

It is a commendable thing to do, because the situation in all parts of Malta has become unbearable. It is only hoped that the enforcement will be long-lasting. We know that in this island of ours law breakers tend to return to their bad old habits, either when they see that the law enforcers' enthusiasm has waned or when they use politics to obtain what they want.

Fines should be on a per diem basis, and hefty so as to act as a deterrent - the fee of €1,000 charged when they re-apply is next to ridiculous, being much less than one night's profit for a normal outlet. And no favours please! I don't know Dr Jason Azzopardi personally but I know he is a gentleman - and gentlemen do not bow to pressure, not even from above.

VERY GOOD! That’s what this country needs. Discipline! No mercy on the cowboys who have since ruled this island with their arrogance! Next up are the bus drivers.

Please check out Triq Luigi Prezzosi in St Pauls bay. Cars can't pass through let alone pedestrians

If only the same would be done to the developers' trucks, concrete mixers, cranes, etc. Once given a permit, they seem to think they own the road. A disgusting case is in one of the busiest roads in B'Kara where the developer has built a wall of bricks right on the edge of the pavement and parks his trucks besides this wall. Pedestrians have to walk almost in the middle of the road. When queried, MEPA told me its all covered by a permit!!

What about checking there is no one using RESERVED PARKING PLACES for other use? Isn't this an illegality as well?! In Luqa there is a persons having a "Reserved" parking outside his door, where he parks his MINIBUS?
Another business in Luqa, uses all the parking in the area around his garages for Buses, Minibuses, and Trucks waiting for an airconditioning service!
And both these cases happen in the main road of Luqa, from the Thomas Smith offices area, up to the main square!!

Are we all equal?? Or are there those who are more equal than others?? LUQA COUNCIL and LUQA POLICE, please take care! To help you more check out opposite Thomas Smith offices, and further up St Andrew Street, just close to the Primary School. No further need to comment!!

"The spokesman said that the department was not trying to make life difficult..." What? Life difficult?! Is he serious?! If there are rules, then these should be enforced! It should be that simple. But apart from traffic fines, law enforcement is almost negligible in Malta. When they need to collect some money, they pick on some law and start imposing fines left right and centre. After some weeks however, it's like nothing happened and things come back as they were, if not worse! But who cares, this is Mickey Mouse Country after all...

Although as a resident, this move was most welcome and about time too,I cannot but show my disappointment for the simple reason that most of the Bars & Restaurants are closed at that time of the day.I urge the Authorities to come and have a look at the place round about nine this evening and especially Saturdays & Sundays.Then they really understand the anarchy & the disregard for the law that is taking place in our once peaceful village.

In senglea no one can walk all the marina and not going down in the street with all the dangers. Some outlets have TV and tables just in the middle of the pavement marina. Act now please.

They can't tackle everywhere at once!! Give them time!

Its obvious that they're going around locality by locality, which is a good job. Well Done.

However I do think that the shop owners must be kicking themselves.

They should have met the Prime Minister before the last elections, and negotiated a great deal, like the beachhouse squatters did!

Hats off for Dr. Jason Azzopardi...this is proof that Government means business and actions of the sort benefit none other than us pedestrians.

Well done

Govt removing the shops furniture is not the answer. The Dept of land should act more seriously and not in this funny way. After the warnings which seem to go unheeded I think closing the outlets should have been the next step.

What about Marsaxlokk??

Some of them do not even leave space pedestrians!! To pass with a wheel chair or pushchair is simply a mission impossible.

I would also suggest that some similar serious action is taken during the Sunday Market Place because some hawkers occupy all the pavement leaving no space for us pedestrians.

Well done!

any chance of this happening in comino too? been there a week ago and its incredible how many deckchairs and umbrellas they manage to put up totally hindering passageways.....speak of standard of living in the locality!!!.......was any permit ever given there??

Good job,now that we are at it when are we going to see some enforcement at Selmun where the walkway opposite a bar and a restaurant are completely blocked by tables and chairs. Or blue eyed boys are above the law?

Why have the restaurants which are situated on the pavement of the Strand Gzira been let off the hook? One cannot pass from this area without bumping into a waitress bearing food plates for the customers.

What happens if they are caught again? Some drastic action must be taken.
Yes, next stop Birzebbugia, to remove illegal street and beach furniture!

GOOD JOB BUT HOPE NOT MSCALA ONLY!. WHEN SOETHING POSITIVE HAPPENED IM READY TO MENTION IT. IF DR JASON AZZOPARDI IS RESPONSABLE I WILL CONGRATULATE HIM. I KNOW HIM HE IS SERIOUS AND EVEN IF WE DONT AGREE IN POLITICS I WILL PRAISE HIM WHEN HE DOES IN MY OPINION A GOOD JOB. PROSIT JASON.

Finally some enforcement indeed. Now keep it going please! People should be thought that rules are there for a purpose and shouldn't be broken. So, well done but keep it up!

that which one grabs from others for his own gain
will prove to be an omen acquired in vain
may serve its author to drain
in time buried never to surface again.
Its much nobler to give
& better reason to live
Those who strive to gobble well
Are paving D way to hobble 2 hell

Hats off for taking such decisions. Dick Tom and Harry at times seem to rule the world where no one can comment or issue directives towards them. Its time that such decisions will be enforced and penalties issued.
What about the entrance to Valletta. Ever tried to pass through the Fontana Kiosk area where anything possible is sold by the snacks and drinks kiosk and where not even in 'single file' one can pass from an area dominated to by bus commuters.
On the other side its just like the Arab Suk. Anything possible to be bought, sold or re-sold.
Do authorities try and stroll around as the thousands of people do daily on entering Valletta and see the mess and degrading situation around.
To add insult the number of dogs , both for sale and both for collecting money is increasing. For the past weeks even dogs in pushchairs with owner shouting and insulting tourists for not giving him euros to buy food for them.
this is the state of Valletta Gate......in 2008

What about Qawra and Bugibba !!!

What about Senglea waterfront???

This is great news to read that the authorities are actually taking enforcement action......finally! However why not implement such ways and means with the notorious Ghadira "beach operators" who monopolise the entire sea frount with their beds, deck chairs and umbrellas?

.....u ara taddi minn aw ( minn fuq il-bankina jew triq fejn ghandi l-imwejjed) .

Huwa pass kbir ghalija li ghamlu .....ghal minn ikun qed jikser il-ligi jew id-dritt li ma kollox

Pero! jien niextieq nejd........... DAk il-Kmamar kolla , bil-parapet u bil- drive inn li hemm l-ghadira ( bil-kulur hodor) u li hemm l' Armier u Little Armier ......TRID TARHOM BIL GOOGLE EARTH (ghax irhula dawn) .........dawn ghandhom dritt inehhuhom?

Thanks for visiting Marsascala. I hope that you will continue visiting every now and then and fine those who put their street furniture out again. Please bill them also for this instance.

Good, very good news. This is what our country needs. It is unacceptable that pedestrian areas are reduced to ‘unofficial restaurants’ and the passer by has to use a tiny walkway. Hats off to Dr Jason Azzopardi, who, in this, and other previous occasions, is showing that he and the Government means business. Dr Azzopardi, keep it up for the interest of us pedestrians who would like to enjoy an easy walk on areas which are ours by right.

Mr John Williams,
"Malta makes the rules so that Gozo can break them.."

Are the sliema & Marsascala bar owners are Gozitans by any chance?

BIRZEBBUGA NEXT PLEASE!!!!!! as there are parts that one can hardly walk alone let alone with a stroller or wheelchair, not to mention that these are taking space from our promenade.

How about Tigne Seafront?

A few weeks ago inspectors from the Department of Land swooped on Tigne Seafront as well. One particular establishment took his furniture back out on the pavement. Does this establishment has a permit this? Please inspect again and do not be weak with the strong, enforce the law.

To add insult to injury, on the very small part of the pavement left for pedestrians, one will find customers of this establishment drinking and smoking outside.

Passing through the crowd, pedestrians must excuse themselves so that they can pass. This is ridiculous.

A great day for M'skala residents!!!

Since M'skala local politics(be it both/three political groups) are always doing things in favour of the business sector, rather then the residents.

No sooner they did the same in Gozo
as soon as they went away the furniture came out again and worst then before
Malta makes the rules so that Gozo can break them

ARE THE OWNERS BEING BILLED FOR THIS WORK.?????????

Outlets in residential parts of Sliema well known to the local Council and the Police next, please!!

good... but why not in june before peak seasons for such localities started?

Birzebbuga next please!

Is Qawra and Bugibba next?