Inspectors remove street furniture in Valletta

On street furniture: we have to appreciate that if it is controlled, it is an attraction in itself and can be enjoyed by everyone. But nobody should be above the Law.

@ N. Azzopardi
I hope the sanitary inspectors look into this disgraceful and embarrassing situation; a service - be it a hotel, restaurant, caffe, etc. - being offered to the public is legally bound to offer sanitary facilities. Before it was taken for granted that anything goes in Malta but now being a member of the EU, we should be regularised according to EU terms and conditions.

@M.Storace
The other kiosk further up, The tower near the playing fields, is the same. I was so embarassed last summer when I was having dinner with our friends a Spanish couple, When the ladies asked the waiter for the toilets. The reply was 'We haven't any, but you can go down in the public toilets" which are sitiuated near the playing fields. The Spanish couple were so amased. They told us that something like this is non-existent in the EU countries, and couldn't understand how it was permisable in malta.

What about the kiosk at Fond Ghadir ???? I'm sure Fond Ghadir forms part of Sliema - at least all the other caffes in Sliema provide toilets/wash-hand basins, etc but this particular kiosk does not - surely this is definitely against the law and what is good for the goose is good for the gander. If one is in urgent need of personal necessities, the employees working at the kiosk advise you to use the 'toilets' at the Tower Palace Hotel.....indeed!!!!!!!

Good to have public places back to the maltese public. Cafes should pay permit and stick to the area they pay permit for. Hope tha gnejnaarmier and Ghadira will be next I am waiting for that move to be happy.

@ Peter Grech - I agree with you 100% especially the ones who believe that public property should be there for the taking. Are you honestly suggesting that they should abuse laws? You know as much as I do that one gives these people a finger and they finish up taking a whole arm. Do you honestly applaud a jungle law. If you do, you are even worse than I thought .

@ Phil Pryce and Julie Peace - Would you break the law and get away with it in your country? It should be the same here. Since you come to Malta to drink, I suggest you leave the pavement free for pedestrians and sit in the middle of the road. As for tourists going to Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey, I doubt it very much. Who wants hundreds of binge drinkers all over their streets.

@ Walter Camilleri - We are not saying there should not be open air cafes. The problem is self inflicted by the owners when given space for two tables and end up with six out of greed.

Just some points, restaurant owners main goal IS profit making as the majority of private owned organisations/firms, why would they open up otherwise?

The argument is they are enroaching on public space, thus they have to be removed.

Permits would preferably need to be given logically but alas i won' thread into that...

Well said K Farrugia, There are too many umbrellas in Piazza Regina and they spoil the ambience. A lower density of tables in the square would allow the ancient beauty to seep through.

Cafe's with tables are no eyesore...though they might cause inconveniences!
The cars parked in St George's square (in front of the President's Palace) are!

This whole thing is just "teatrin". Restaurant owners have relatively few votes, so it's OK to use them as a PR spectacle. Occupiers of public land (much, much more than that usedby the restaurants) to the detriment of the general public in Armier, Gnejna, Mellieha and St Thomas Bay number in the thousands so no Government would dream of touching them.

The chip-on-the-shoulder grumblers who object to open air cafes probably have not yet woken up to the fact that the tourists that use the open air tables make a substantial contribution to their own standards of living.

The authorities are definitely not against having open air cafes BUT only where it is possible, the law of the jungle should not prevail. Taking over public space for private use without a permit and without payment for the land and denying pedestrians the right to use the pavement is definitely outrageous. In Xaghra, not only taking over the pavement but constructing a hut and having a beautiful chandelier hanging inside, a door recently fixed opening onto what is left of the Square against the law and taking a good percentage of the Square obstructing traffic is the order of the day. Last week four policemen accompanied by what were said to be three enforcement officers came, looked and went. The stage was left untouched.

I hope that in the meantime the plants that were taken are being cared of and not let to die more so now that we are paying so much to be 'green'!!!

Any restaurant owners using public areas for business should be stopped. No questions about it. If anyone would like to buy/rent land or property then one must pay for the inch (i.e. every meter squared) residence or office. The same applies to restaurant owners making business out public space. Anyhow, lots of income has already been generated over the past years...

peter grech
Kuragg Maltin.
Let's get PUBLIC places back to the PUBLIC from arrogant restaurant owners

Phil Pryce
Are you referring to Malta or Nirvana? I don't care about tourists if it means that I have to expose myself to danger by having to step down from the pavement in order to continue on my way.

Julie Peace
It is the public that should be rioting against these usurpers of PUBLIC property.

Two years ago I took my children swimming at the White tower area in Armier. They had fun and we went back home , a day later first one then the other child started complaining about earache ( please not the kids swim daily in summer at St Thomas Bay rocky area) so off to the doctor and we found that they had ear infection as had the kids of the other families that were with us , The water there is contaminated with the drainage coming from these rooms and it is only a matter of time before we have a serious illness in Malta thanks to these cowboys.And what about the beach umbrella stands are we waiting for an accident? I sincerely hope that if anyone is eventually injured he/she would sue the owner and the government for allowing the owners to leave those stands there at night

@Ray Gatt-
the worst war is to battle the stupid.

KURAGG RESTAURANT OWNERS.

Oh, here we go again. If only people got as agitated about things that really matter. Ok, so lets remove the outdoor cafes. Hmmmm.. wonder where the tourists and all the office and shop employees will go for their coffees and lunch. I heard a little peep in there about removing the tables and chairs from the promenade at Marsaxlokk. Very noble gesture indeed. Marsaxlokk will revert to being an unspoilt fishing village, Sliema will become just a place to go shopping and the tourists will be in Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and all those places where outdoor cafe culture is encouraged and deemed a tourist attraction.
Oh, yes, I hear about the inability to walk along the pavement in Sliema. Absolute rubbish. Agreed it would be a lot easier to walk if there were no tables and chairs (or tourists!) but, pleeease, it is still not difficult to walk there!

It is good to see 'certain' laws being enforced, but referring to encroachment operators as 'greedy' is a proletariat comment!

In most European cities, a piazza is a place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffe... perhaps read a book and absorb some culture... to remove catering establishments ability to use these areas would be a gesture which would detract from the beauty of our cities.

Having said that the beachouses are a real eyesore and benefit nobody except those who built them...

hence a logical mind would suggest we attack one and support the other... but this IS Malta.

I am surprised the restaurant owners are not rioting. I wonder what will happen come the summer time, all this could have a serious knock on effect to Malta's economy. I saw the headline "Malta not in recession - so far" It might well be if lots of restaurants go out of business. One of the nicest things about Malta is its diversity and I think it would be very bare indeed without the outside seating and plants.

@ E.Camilleri

With that logic we should turn all pavements and squares into restaurants and let the pedestrians enjoy walking on the roads.

And also where I think you are wrong is to assume that the restaurant owners are encroaching as a community service and not to fatten their wallets.

I do agree with the natural breeze etc (albeit hijacked by the large majority of smokers sitting alfresco seeing they are banned everywhere else) but we have to be reasonable.

Re the smoking, how about having smoking and non-smoking sections when dining outdoors?

@ Peter Grech - Yes, people who think they can break the law, bend the rules and expect to get away with it are cowboys or whatever you'd like to call them. Yes, these people earn a lot of money as otherwise they would not be doing it. Yes, restaurant owners, compared to other businesses, employ a few people. It's you who needs to get a life mate and a few lessons in English grammar as well. As for you not being a restaurant owner, well, I doubt it very much or else somebody close is. Instead of LOL, I suggest you give me one good reason why these cowboys should take up more space than they are entitled to. Just one!

In other cases i have said well done. This is entirely a different story. The embellishment of the piazza was done nicely with all the greenery making the place look lively and well kept and you could walk with pushchairs easily. we are a Mediterranean country and al fresco dining should be encouraged, only without causing any inconveniences to the general public. i believe that in the case permission should be granted.

@Ray Gatt
First of all I did not said the restaurant owners are right.

Second a restaurnat owner is a cowboy?
A restaurant owner makes thousands?
A restaurant owner employee a few people?

Get a life.
LOL.

@ Peter Grech - We'll show them respect when they show us respect. Who are you to imply that a 40 hour week employee has no responsibilities. I can assure you that I am more responsible than these cowboys who think that just because they employ a few people, they can break and bend laws to their advantage. Nothing extremely wrong you say? Abusing and taking advantage of public property is not wrong? They may be employing a few people, but believe you me, they are making thousands off our backs otherwise they would not be there. They can still give a service and make a living without breaking laws, as I do.

Great ! Serves them right!

Now then, next spring and summer coming I hope none will complain that patrons are being stuffed inside restaurants and none can enjoy their meal in a pleasing natural breeze, enjoying the view and all. You are all correct. None of US can have all the cake and eat it. And what is it with some people's mentality that any businessman is there only to fatten his wallet.

I agree that where there is abuse then this must be seen to. However arrangements should be made so that within the reasonable and where possible, outside furniture for restaurants is permitted legally. More than us locals, it is the tourists who drool for our sunshine. Its what they come for afterall. Stuff them inside a 4 walled restaurant and they will wave goodbye. Recently a tourist wrote on The Times on this very matter and if there is anything that counts in tourism, its tourists' feedback.

BTW I am not a restaurant owner.

As far as I know we are all equal under the law and therefore must abide by the laws of the country. Also it is true that may be some establishments might terminate jobs as they will not need the staff to cover the extry tables outside. But hey since when do 2 wrongs make a right. So well done, perhaps soon we will be able to walk on our pavements again without risking life and limb by having to walk in the middle of the streets. Bugibba is a perfect example of this especially on the promande from infront of Mac Donalds right past the pier.

What about the umbrellas & sunbeds at Ghadira Bay. When I come down with my family there is never any space near the water's edge because it's all taken by the umbrella owners. My daughter has small children therefore she wants to keep an eye on them when they are in the water. We bring our own umbrellas etc. and we do not want to pay every time we go to the beach. Do these people have a license to take up all the space on this beach? I do not think so.

This is daft. There is a difference between encroaching on pavements and embelishing a square. The potted plants, umbrellas and chairs are a nice touch for tourists. Permits should be ganted accordingly otherwise who else will linger in the square other than the pigeons?

michael psaila
That's just an excuse.
Why should the PUBLIC suffer because of the greed of PRIVATE individuals who want to use PUBLIC property for the PRIVATE gain?

Joseph E Briffa
Al Fresco yes, but in the PRIVATE property of the owners not on PUBLIC property.

K. Farrugia
Agree with you. Those establishments have underground premises so they can use them.

peter grech
Not on PUBLIC property. They can use their PRIVATE property to give their service.

How about Gnejna bay next.? The surrounding bay has been raped with concrete rooms built in the surrounding rocks and some even have huge water cisterns, chimneys for ventilation or maybe cozy fire place and the best part of it all is that some rooms have had balcones built over them with an unobstructed seafront view of course.... What incredible cheek!

Next Armier and il bajja ta Torri L- abjad ?????

it was the most beautifull part of valletta . and what about the 'gabbani' at chalet in sliema.

We're waiting for Armier !

Good Work! How about Bugibba especially in summer. Besides, taking too much parking spaces, one can hardly walk on pavement sometimes. It's not always a matter of 'alfresco' since many restaurants/bars/pubs already have front and/or back terraces - I think it's a matter of occupying more space/land at the expense of the pedestrians or parking!!!

Nobody seems to be acting for the removal of tables along Marsaxlokk promenade.

I agree to remove the illegal street furniture but all of you who say WELL DONE most probably are a 40hr/week employee without any responsibilities. These restaurants are doing nothing extremely wrong just giving a service TO US, doing a living and giving work to others.

SO PLEASE SHOW SOME RESPECT.

PS. I am not a restaurant owner.

How about restoring the glory to Republic square (Piazza Regina) now? All those umbrellas make it look like a market and the splendour and beauty of the national library cannot even be seen as it is hidden by all the muck!

I am all in favour of alfresco establishments..We have the climate for that kind of entertainment...one must only ensure that the encroachment terms are adhered to. Bdw let's try and solve the problem with the St Elmo squatters.

I fully agree!
Well done!
But I ask, why is it taking the authority a long
time to use the law where Armier is concerned?
Why is Armier so special?
I remember going for a swin there a few years
ago and was looked upon as though I was
invading their privacy!!!!

Good work. Hope they will do the same in the Sliema area. Is difficult to walk on the Sliema front, especially in the Burger King area. Pavements encroachment by furniture and cranes.

Although its a must to clear all illegal furniture etc govt, one must note that with immediate effect these restaurants will terminate employment of their staff such as waiters ! So at the end it is the employee who suffers most !

Good Job.
Stop all encroachment permits.
Why does the public have to suffer for a few thousand measly euros that the Government may be getting from the encroachment permits for the private persons involved to fatten their wallets?
Give back PUBLIC land and SPACES to the PUBLIC
This also applies to beach concessions.

Great.

Armier next?

Well Done! Good start to a Monday morning :-)

Serves them right. They do not want to abide by their conditions. So.... enforcement. And please do it in front of the patrons, so that they would be given a good lesson, and patrons will start boycotting arrogant cowboys who think they have the divine right to break all laws and regulations.