Encroachment abuse continues despite law enforcement

@ Lands Department
What about City Gate Arcades and its whereabouts?
Why dont you visit the arcades and see the common area inside,
all taken by shopowners
to hang their merchandise,
to put showcases on wheels everywhere,
to put vending/gaming machines
leaving no space for customers/tourist to walk about freely.
Not to mention the gatherings of youngsters all over the place rendering the arcades more ghetto like.

ACTION PLEASE!!!!!!

Anyone ever heard of Bonvita Street in St. Julians. If not I invite all of you to visit it and decide for your self on the extent to which the term mis-used government property has been taken. The mayor him self responsible for granting illegal permision of parking of cars on the pavements. This is detrimental to residents who have their entrances to their houses blocked and often or not their facades and front doors damaged by cars which bump in to them. What about pedestrian rights? Where are pedestrians meant to walk if not on the pavements?? I have seen many elderly and even a person in a wheel chair who had to walk in the road!! Is this the extent Malta has come to?? Having braught this up with the Lands department years ago- I was told that the parking on the pavements is illegal, and the Council has not right to grant such parking. Can any one from the council comment on this please?? I am realy glad to have moved from this horrid area and now living in a more organised zone in Sliema!

i agree with alot of the comments made here, They should started with st Pauls bay Bugibba and Qawra , coz that is the most wasted table spaces ever in Triq IL-KAHLI alone we lost 29 carspaces for the nusence bar furniture and they all hold an open air seating before they were giving the pavement . yes the previouse Major have alot to unswer for our life has become a misery,Give us back the spaces

Milli jidher ghaddiet l-elezzjoni ma fadalx bzonn tal-voti, issa naraw lil kulhadd dubbien.

Il-veru pajjiz tal-Mickey Mouse!!!

How about some proper planning that will apply to the whole country. Stop making decisions that only apply to one individual or precinct. Again we see how ludicrous law making is in Malta; it is simply another Mickey!!

In Bugibba, it is not only the street furniture that need to be removed, but also the road and public pavements that have been given away by the previous mayor.

The council needs to go back to the drawing board. Who was this genius that gave the pavements away as far as the Zebra crossings, and where now on a daily basis when deliveries arrives to these bars and restaurants the lorries and vans have to park on the same zebra crossings closing the safe path to us pedestrians.

Which college did you attend to come out with such brilliant ideas. Time they erect a marble piece for your achievments.

The latest fad on the Marsascala seafront is for bar owners to have a live band playing music on the street in front of their premises, occupying parking spaces in the process. I've seen this being done by two separate establishments last Saturday and Sunday evening. Action on this abuse as well please.

Otherwise, keep up the good work. The cowboy mentality in this country has to be eradicated once and for all.

As I said some time ago
Two weights and two measures !!
I agree with law enforcement, but it should be applied to EVERYONE. The pathetic joke of the year must be how one restaurant in Paceville, managed to convince the ADT and their minister to close Church Street so one restaurant can build what is effectively a horrible band stand in the middle of the road, on which to put dining tables. This illegality has created traffic chaos.

How can one dare to take such actions when the revolting eye sore and the famous Armier boathouses were given 'permits' 2 weeks before election day. Goes to show that the law is not equal with everyone (or more appropriately should I say the Government). Any action taken by the lands department is a joke when one considers the above.

Also, what about the Tuna pens??? So much the case of Strong with the weak...and weak with the strong.

angelo camilleri

"is this only happening in the south???"

Yes, it's a conspiracy to take away all the chairs from the south and give them to the north.

This farce is now taking too long. It is time now for the withdrawal of their licenses plus heavy fines for defying the law.

Mr or Ms A. Vassallo earlier on had indicated Tigne Seafront to have revisted; good idea, but what about nearby Hughes Hallett Street/Tigne Street and those kiosks in Qawra, and below the Fra Ben tower?! The latter may not be termed 'street furniture' because they are not directly on the street, but do these establishments have the required permit/s to have so many tables/chairs placed around their kiosks? If they have, then good luck to them, but this is somehow doubtful. A regular check could possibly get things in order, possibly. But at least we are now having evidence of action by the authorities, and that is a good sign. Simply keep it up, all round, please.

Well done for the action taken albeit late in summer months and from what it seems in only some areas of the islands.

In view of the autumn & winter months, it will be good to plan some action for the huts/barracs in areas like those along the Dwejra lines near Bingemma Fort. I cannot understand how a few opportunists have taken possession of these huts installed locked door & windows and no action has ever been taken.

Hope one day these places can be enjoyed by all not by the few selected who think that they are above all. If this is not robbing what is it?

i read that they pay 1,000 euros to reapply don't they pay a sort of rent during the year for the space they ocicupai all year round .

''Encroachement abuse continues despite law enforcement''. Incredible! This shows how we never had any law enforcement in this country and that those who abuse take it with a pinch of salt.. They do not believe it and break the law again and again hoping it will all go away. Unless there is CONSISTENCY we'll never make it. CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY.
What happened to the rubbish blitz? Is it over? Can those selfish morons who dirty everywhere start getting the pleasure of dirtying their own country again?

I find that just taking tables and chairs away and making outlets pay Eur 1000 to reapply is waste of time and showing extreme weakness. They shall be at it next week. The cost of the cheap tables and chairs are quickly recovered with their sales. The only way is to show total determination to eradicate this abuse. Suspension of licence and closure of outlet for a couple of years. Next day there is no need to send trucks to collect tables and chairs.

I cannot remember any other occasion that I have agreed totally and wholeheartedly with Evarist Saliba. "To stop abuse stop the source, that is, withdraw the permit to operate from those who persist in defying the law." I would also suggest a very hefty fine to go along.

Very well done to all involved. About time we have someone to take care of the extreme abuse of public land.

Also please revise the money these people pay to the Government, which I am sure it is nothing compared to they make in one day, let a lone for a year. Government property should be revised, as a whole. What about pillboxes and fields / farm houses (turned villas) on encroachment or old renting contracts for under 10 euros per year.

And all this from people's taxes.

Wake up......

is this only happening in the south???

Well done to all concerned for enforcing the law.What about those shops who keep displaying their Goods and bill boards outside their shops not to mention the inconvenience of the pedestrians.

At last some action is taken against greedy law breakers!

However tha law should apply to all without distinction.

In summer most beaches in Malta, Gozo and Comino are taken up by greeding individuals who sell umbrellas, deck chairs etc and one does not dare complain as these people seem to be above the law. Who has been controlling such abuse??
Apart from encroaching on public land, what income is being declared?
Do they issue fiscal receipts?

To conclude abuse can only be controlled by hefty fines and it is high time some
ethics and discipline are enforced for the common good.

It's good to see some action being taken against law breakers.. now if only the govt had the same backbone when it comes to illegal immigration, road works, illegal developments, bus inspections... need I go on?

When in Sliema? When in St. Julians? When in Bugibba? When in Qawra? Is this a silent discrimination going on against Southerners? Otherwise well done, shame that it all started now at the eve of Autumn when pavements are almost useless.

In Gozo,encroachment abuse not only continues but it flourishes everyday.

A typical example is Victory Square at Xaghra, Gozo. The situation there is incredible and cannot be tolerated any longer.

It seems that bar owners and restaurateurs at Victory Square are not only above the law but enjoy some kind of 'protection' .To make matters even worse one of these restaurateurs seems to enjoy even more privileges then the rest.Any kind of protection should stop right away.

Mepa and Lands Department Inspectors should make a visit and take drastic actions right away.

This is all very well, but I don't understand why other more "in your face" establishments are not booked as well. I 'd like to know for example, why people cannot walk in the pjazza in front of St.John's Cathedral because it is laden with tables and why there are so many tables blocking people's way on the pavement on the right side of St.John's going down to the flower kiosk. What about the restaurants on the pavement at the Strand in Sliema opposite Captain Morgan? Maybe these owners are imume from these actions? Why?

Although I totally agree, will it ever be Gzira/Sliema's turn, and let us not forget Bugibba...or is it just the south that's always hit

A big well done to the authorities concerned. I was driving by a restaurant last Saturday in M’Xlokk while they were removing the furniture; the owner had occupied the kerb completely putting furniture in the disabled ramp too.

Nies bla kuxjenza!!

this is an outstanding action....... well done to authorities.......but if its the 3rd time running for same bar owners and they still think they can rule its time for more personal action!! besides their sky-high uncontrolled prices they cant stand this legal enforcment !!...up to them !

well done again authorities!

@ Lands Department

You must visit Tigne Seafront. again. Tables on the pavement blocking access to pedestrians, people with pushchairs and on wheelchairs. They just do not care.

Besides, it is too late now, with the coming cold or maybe windy weather we will not see these tables on the pavements for quit some time, maybe Easter time.

Brilliant...

illegal boat houses next??

Oops...Forgot the pre election promise. Sorry!!

WELL DONE ALL CONCERNED!

Of course the bar owner who shouted abuse at the 'inspectors' felt that he had the right to occupy land which does not belong to him, as do most of the other offenders around Malta & Gozo, the cheek of some people!

Greed makes these people feel that they have the right to abuse public property, while the public who own the land in the first instance have to duck and dive when walking on THEIR pavements.

What is now very important, is that everyone is treated equally and all the other offenders around Malta and Gozo are also dealth with equal effeciency

If this offence is being repeated and also, when notices are sent to the establishments, the abuse continues, it is clear to me that the fine is low and not acting as a deterrent. Perhaps if the fine is per-seat, it would be more effective.

Such activity is being carried out in the evenings, which I think it’s the only time such can be done cause during the day the tables / chairs etc would be locked inside the restaurant, however when such activity is being carried out tourists in the area would surly leave with bad taste. Are the fines high enough to cover also for this inconvenience to tourists?

To stop abuse stop the source, that is, withdraw the permit to operate from those who persist in defying the law.

I told you so. Its useless enforcing the law by removing offending objects. REMOVE THEIR LICENCES for a year or two and you will see miracles. These guys never learn. Anarchy is the name of the game.