The Malta Arts Council is drawing up new guidelines to ensure last week’s incident in which a burger kiosk was placed next to the statue of Grand Master Jean de Valette at the entrance to the capital will not be repeated.

“Talks have already begun with the relevant authorities so that guidelines are drawn up ensuring that the aesthetics of the capital are prioritised in temporary cultural festivities and beyond,” a spokeswoman for the Malta Arts Council said.

The placement of a temporary burger kiosk in the middle of Pjazza de Valette – part of the multimillion-euro regeneration project at Valletta’s entrance – had hundreds of online commentators crying foul as soon as timesofmalta.com reported the matter.

It took the personal intervention of Culture Minister Owen Bonnici, who, days earlier, had declared the area to be a no-parking zone, to have the kiosk removed.

At first, the kiosk owner refused to budge, arguing that the local council had issued a valid permit and he had paid the relevant fees. However, he later agreed to move.