Sunday, 5th July 2009
Barbecues to be banned from Mellieha bay
Ghadira beach is a magnet for barbecue lovers.
Barbecues will soon be banned from Mellieha's Ghadira Bay as part of the local council's efforts to attain Blue Flag status for the beach.
Three by-laws proposed by Mellieha council aimed at making the locality cleaner and safer for tourists are nearing the end of their public consultation period, and Mellieha mayor Robert Cutajar expects government approval within the next three weeks.
One by-law will completely ban barbecues from Ghadira and Selmun bays, which have long served as popular spots. Barbecues will be permitted on 11 other beaches in the area, although anyone wishing to hold a barbecue for more than 15 people will have to obtain a permit from the council.
Mellieha was recently named a European destination of excellence and Mr Cutajar would like to build on this recognition by achieving a Blue Flag for Ghadira Bay, making it the second beach in Malta to do so after St George's Bay.
"We want to upgrade the beach so it gets the recognition it deserves. I would like many people to come and enjoy Mellieha but we need to make sure the beach is clean and safe for people to use during the day," he said.
The mayor cited numerous hazards associated with beach barbecues. He said debris including glass is left on the beach and charcoal is often buried under the sand and then found by children the next day. Charcoal bins intended for the disposal of barbecue waste are stolen regularly.
Still, the decision is expected to trigger off protests among the many who clog the two beaches practically every summer evening.
"We will upgrade the area over the next month and then we will begin to apply for the Blue Flag together with the Malta Tourism Authority," Mr Cutajar said.
To implement the by-law, the council will employ night-time enforcement officers to patrol the beaches.
The other two by-laws forbid people from living in caravans on public land in the area and prohibit overnight camping on its beaches.
Mr Cutajar said the proposed by-laws have the support of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprise - GRTU, the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin.
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Comments
If imbeciles are the culprits of such stupidities then punish the imbeciles and not ban BBQs. Ban this Ban that, simply because the MLC or the Ministry in the first place does not have what it takes to employ Green Wardens capable of heavily booking such offenders. Maybe with your mentality you should ban yourself from going out cause something or someone is bound to irritate you beyond your doorstep. This collective punishment attitude in Malta is getting dangerously totalitarian. If you keep leaving the morons scott free and in turn punish the whole community, then the bubble is bound to burst at one point. What's next to be banned ?
BBQ's must either be banned or else the police be present to control those imbeciles who lack even the slightest of common sense. The prevailing attitude of I'm all right and ? you jack must stop once and for all, the relevant authorities kindly take note....
1. employ green wardens that are there till after midnight. How many times are wardens seen during the day on beaches, let alone during the night. And the ones during the day will be in the street waiting for the first person to park incorrectly. Fines should be hefty and not a simple Euro10!!!!
2. charcoal bins stolen: make them a base of concrete which will be buried under the sand, no one will be able to steal that unless they come with a truck!! Also to those "intelligent" people: charcoal means charcoal and not anything that normally goes into a normal rubbish bin.
3. who said that litter is found after bbqs. MLC should employ a large "gaffa" with a net a the back that goes up and down the beach collecting every single item that is found. This is done overseas, can't see why it can't be done in malta.
so much for a blue flag, educate rather than opposing!!!!!!
The main problem is that this bay fall under the jurisdiction of the Mellieha Local Council.
The MLC with all its successes and failures cannot handle this as this is a different site/area that should have its own management.
The MLC have got to concentrate solely on the village.
The Ghadira Bay should be left apart from the duties of the MLC.
It is a large area and far away from the center of Mellieha.
This shows a catastrophic short sightedness from the persons/board that defined the local councils administration.
The Governemnt should take all into consideration all the bays in Malta and Gozo and form working forces thatshall be responsible ofthe all the bays in Malta and Gozo, but divided into different areas whowork in tandem with the concerned localcouncil.
Banning of the BBQ is a regressive and undemocratic act that is an insult to us as if we can't do nothing at all!
The banning stops the citizens from enjoying freedom regardless of the fact that some of us are not that responsible.
Littering shall always takes place but the culprits have to be caught!
Banning bbq's is not a required criteria for a Blue Flag status. Cleanlines , proper facilities and beach management are a must. This link gives more insight to what the Blue Flag status is about. http://www.blueflag.org/Menu/Criteria.... sensible beach management to enable all people, locals and tourists, to enjoy the beach safely.
Finally, if the by-law is still to be approved, how come the "No BBQ's" signs are already in place? These should be covered up till this by-law is approved, if it is at all.
Does the public convenience, situated in the bay with the makeshift sewage cover and full of coakroaches, form part of the Blue Flag standard?
Further to the earlier comment I made this morning, together with my family this afternoon I went to Mellieha Bay after 3.30pm. Not only we already found filth everywhere on the beach but while staying there till 7pm this evening we witnessed an unbelievable number of ignorant selfish people, mostly Maltese and a few foreigners, throwing bottles, packets, glasses and all the filth you can imagine on the sand and leaving all behind when they left. I noticed only one person who picked up around 6 empty beer cans and dumped them in the bin. I personally picked up 3 "broad daylight" glass bottles. I have no doubt that even during the BBQ's there will be peanut brains who will litter abundantly but it is these who are to be punished and not ban genuine BBQs as per signs you already illegally put up at every beach staircase. Mellieha Bay is not Mellieha's property but on the contrary it is PUBLIC land property of the Maltese people. If MLC cannot administer by appointing Green Wardens with legal powers to book offenders on the spot, then let the matter in the hands of the Ministry concerned.
One other point regarding Ghadira Bay. LAst week I witnessed 2 guys riding their landrover on the sand to collect their umbrellas and deckchairs. Tourists and Maltese had to make way for these cowboys or else risk being hit. Will this be allowed in a Blue Flag Bay?
To all those who are moaning against this MLC decision, do not take this decision as a political decision, it has been taken in the interest of all locals and tourists alike.
As I already personally communicated with you via e mail..I feel disgusted about your decision and if this will get the goverment's approval. I have 13 and 11 year old children and God knows how great a time I had in the past years when they were younger seeing them enjoying what is OUR (maltese) wonderful beach with clear sea while I had a drink with family and friends and cooking Where are the green wardens????? Does they still exist??? why not trying them instead of giving us the ridiculous excuse of litter left!! My children are old enough to go somewhere else but I feel this is a decision to be ashamed of!! This is our beech as much as yours and Tourists
I always dispose of my used charcoal responsibly and always make sure that I leave no litter behind (even if it is not mine) whenever (every weekend that is) my family and I stay for a BBQ at this lovely beach. I pay all my taxes on time and as far as I know I obey and support the law. I only happen to have no money for a private pool to enjoy such an activity with my family.
While the idea of having Ghadira blue flagged is nice (I am sure that the hotel owners agree with this) I am also convinced that with the adequate infrastructure we can still experience bbq's on this beach...hopefully for free.
IT'S NOT THE BARBEQUE GATHERING THAT MAKES THE BEACH DIRTY ! IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES IS WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. I GUARANTEE YOU THAT EVERY MELLIEHI THAT USES THE BEACH, NO MATTER WHAT, LEAVES THE SPOT HE USES, CLEANER THAN BEFORE. SO PLEASE HELP KEEP OUR BEACHES CLEAN, WE DO!
This is the worst decision one could ever take by abolishing a maltese tradition that has been going on for years.
However it is very important to have designated areas where Mr Joe Public can enjoy seaside BBQ's in the evenings.
It is also about time that green wardens are introduced to spot checks these beaches and fine anyone who offends!
The bay is literally littered by the umbrella stumps which apart from being a nuisance in the first place, are a hazard for people wlaking along the bay.
Last but not least one chould also keep in mind the illegal boathouses. Why are they still there? Surely a BBQ between some friends does far less damage that an illegal strucutre on the beach?
finally what constitutes a BBQ? is it only the fact that there is a fire/charcoal burning? Does a gorup of people eating takeway food and drinking beer constitute and infringement of the law? Can't such a group litter the bay?
Is ghadira bay going to become a restricted area? especially at night time?
Banning BBQ's is surely not the way! More investment in infrastructure as regards toilets, bins, waste disposal systems should be introduced at all bays.
And what about the so called Kiosks that spring up like mushrooms in all the bays? Considering their strategic location, these should be charged a higher permit to operate by the beach, and part of the revenue directed towards maintaining the beach clean. Going back to mellieha bay, the so called adira sailing club is a fine example of a concrete monstrosity disguised as a sailing club, when in fact the main activity is the restaurant and bar. The same thing is happening at golden bay, where the take away on the bay, which till now is a wooden structure, has diversified its activity and became a restaurant and club. One wonders what permits were issued in the first place, if any were? And were does the drainage from these structures end?
2. I think the biggest offenders are those going to the beaches to celebrate their village's patron saint and all the beach parties – organised for foreigners and locals alike.
Nationally, the majority of rubbish nowadays are especially Plastic bottles. Until we do this measure, rubbish will still be a huge problem.
For BBQ Charcoal bins, please stop from using the 1/2 drums. Apart from the fact that they are used by the usual idiots to throw in all sorts of other rubbish, they are carried away too easily. Place again fixed pits at two or three locations around the bay, surrounded only by a small perimiter wall and having a supply of water to cool off the charcoal. Then pick it up once every two days.
if MLC is serious it can charge a fee for issuing BBQ permits depending on the number of persons joining in.
The fees can finance the employment of wardens/lifeguards
Now speaking of real pollution - what is MLC doing regarding the fish farms that are littering the bay?