Mike Thomas, St Paul's Bay
Retain the café culture
It was with great bemusement that we helped a local bar owner pack up his seats and tables outside his premises and hide them away a few days ago. All this because government inspectors were about to "swoop down" to enforce pavement encroachment permits.
As a frequent visitor to Malta, I can recall that the pavement was extended to allow more people to sit outside after a smoking ban was introduced. In all the incidents that I have observed, the seating was in the extended portion of the pavement as defined by the original kerb stones and not obstructing the pedestrian walkway. After several conversations with my fellow countrymen and other foreign nationals, most of us assume that the Maltese authorities are, at best, incompetent or, at worse, trying to restrict this "café culture" that we enjoy, to deter us from coming!
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John Borg
Oct 8th 2008, 19:58
Conny: you're right, some of us are kind of bothered when we inhale stuff that can make us sick. Imagine that!
Conny Dittrich
Oct 8th 2008, 18:40
Mike you recall correctly that pavements were extended after the smoking ban, as the nonsmokers did not flock the bars as proclaimed and the businesses started struggling. Still to this day outside it is packed and inside they are almost empty.
One example is Sliema - The Strand. It does not make sense to destroy parking places just to have mostly wider pavements where the restaurants are situated. Also restaurants in Valletta have now outside areas, which were not needed before.
It is not the enforcements department fault. They have to do their job. I blame the owners of the cafes, which did not fight for the right to accommodate smokers. They prefer to break the law either by closing both eyes if someone smokes in their bar or to put not licensed tables on the pavement. Even outside the smoke is bothering them, as they have to walk through it as you can read in one comment.
This problem will persist as long as we have the smoking ban and will not go away. Not you or I should write. The owners should write, but they prefer to keep a low profile and hope not to get caught.
claire roberts
Oct 8th 2008, 18:24
i was once a resident of malta,..,many times i would feel uncomfortable trying to weave my way around the tables and chairs to get to where i wanted to get to get [ it wasnt to patronise their place that,s for sure!!].,i felt i was their inconvenience, and that i was intruding on the clients who were eating,..,.,,..,.,here in canada, there are open air cafe,s restaurants, who don,t occupy the whole pavement,..,it,s fenced off ,so pedestrians can pass by freely!.,,..,also no smoking is allowed on these patios.,,.,.,.it,s open -air for no-smokers to enjoy.,.,.,..
Phil Press
Oct 8th 2008, 16:28
Mike, you say "All this because government inspectors were about to "" swoop down"" to enforce pavement encroachment permits". So you must have known it was illegal to abet the owner to " hide them away". Stay were you are and enjoy the pavement bars/cafe's.
l Galea
Oct 8th 2008, 15:09
Mike Thomas
Let me remind you that you are an accomplice in breaking the law Mike.
No Mike, pavements were widened to make it easier for people to walk on, not for greedy cafe owners and customers to enjoy their coffee and pollute the environment by cigarette smoke while obstructing the pavement.
Ever heard of the saying that when in Rome do as the Romans do Mike?
How can you call our authorities incompetent when they enforce the law?
Do they enforce the law in your own country, or do you live in a lawless jungle village Mike?
Antoine Sciberras
Oct 8th 2008, 15:06
Years ago, bars and cafeterias were given permission to close and cover the ten feet front garden required by law to accommodate more customers and thus increase their profit. Then the smoking ban came into effect and some wise guy gave permission for furniture to be placed in the street thus leaving no space for decent parking.To add insult to injury some have occupied street corners and 'embellished' them with high vegetation totally blocking the drivers vision . By the same principal ,if you park in the corner you get booked by the warden .
By law, land can only be expropriated if its for public use i.e for parking and not to sit down and buy a coffee.
You are right Mr Formosa. Its all a question of greed
Phil Press
Oct 8th 2008, 14:18
So where are you from?, are illegal obstructions allowed on the FOOT PATHS ?.
D Schembri
Oct 8th 2008, 11:29
Mr. Thomas, I would not call our Maltese Authority Incompetent I would call them Responsable. Why should I have to push my childs pram on the dangerous road.
Even if tables and chairs are not completely obstructing the pavement I still come across ignorant people who decide to completely block the remaining pavement by turning their chair for leg room.
Manuel Mifsud
Oct 8th 2008, 10:49
Can Mr. Mike Thomas tell us what's wrong with enforcing pavement encroaching permits? He must be a law abiding citizen!!!
TONY FORMOSA
Oct 8th 2008, 10:19
Cafe culture is one thing,greed is another. Catering outlets should not have more tables and chairs than the numbers stipulated in their licence permit. Plain and simple.
TONY FORMOSA
TONY FORMOSA