A by-law banning barbecues at Mellieħa Bay, in place since 2009, could soon be revoked, according to mayor John Buttigieg.

He said the local council was constantly receiving requests from people wanting to hold barbecues on the beach and so it had decided to propose amending regulations.

“We decided to propose the reintroduction of barbecues at the bay after the council has for years been receiving lots of requests from people who want to hold barbecues there,” Mr Buttigieg said. If the ban was lifted, he said, only gas barbecues would be allowed and the council would carry out inspections to ensure no charcoal or any similar material was used at the bay.

“We will be continuously carrying out inspections and enforcing all the regulations,” he said.

The council will be holding a public consultation exercise on the by-law in the coming weeks. The ban on barbecues was introduced in 2009 as part of a series of measures by the council to obtain Blue Flag status for Għadira Bay.

Only gas barbecues would be allowed

Asked whether the reintroduction of barbecues could have a negative impact on such a status, Mr Buttigieg said he had already been assured by Nature Trust that this would not be the case.

“Not allowing barbecues at beaches is not one of the criteria for Blue Flag status, as is evident at Għajn Tuffieħa, where barbecues are allowed,” he said.

Mr Buttigieg added the council would be making sure the beach was cleaned up before 9.30am, which was a requirement of the Blue Flag programme.

The decision to ban barbecues had triggered protests among those who used to clog the two beaches regularly

The council had identified a number of hazards associated with beach barbecues, such as glass left on the beach and charcoal buried in the sand. All this could have contributed to the beach not getting the Blue Flag status.

At present, barbecues at Għadira can only be held in a designated area between the two sandy beaches. A local council permit is required for groups of 15 and over at a fee of €10.

A further permit is required for a sound system or generator.