A Ta’ Xbiex kiosk owner who doubled the footprint of his establishment by encroaching on a number of parking spaces would be facing police action after ignoring an enforcement notice, the planning authority said.

“The regulator is waiting for police proceedings against the owner to start because, on various occasions, he threatened and intimidated Malta Environment and Planning Authority officials while they were performing their duties,” a Mepa spokesman said.

He was replying to questions by Times of Malta after a number of readers questioned the effectiveness of an enforcement notice on the kiosk issued last year.

They pointed out that, in spite of this warning, it was all “business as usual” because the kiosk was still serving clients in an adjacent large tent equipped with chairs and tables.

Mepa last year slapped the Heavenly Taste kiosk owner – Clayton Azzopardi, 27 – with an enforcement notice together with a daily fine.

Though the establishment was licensed, it had never been given permission to use part of the parking area along the Ta’ Xbiex seafront.

When contacted by this newspaper yesterday, Mr Azzopardi denied ever threatening public officials.

“Why don’t Mepa officials crack down on illegal encroachments along the Sliema front, Xemxija and Ġnejna Bay?” he said.

Insisting he was not at fault, he expressed his resolve to fight back, saying he would even consider taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

“This action against me is being instigated by the envy of those who cannot stand the fact that I have invested about €200,000 and employ seven people, even though I am just 27,” he said.

Last month, the Sliema council called for stricter enforcement with regard to illegal structures, hawkers overstepping their licence conditions and even beggars.

Sliema mayor Anthony Chircop complained that, despite numerous reports lodged by the council, the authorities, including the police, the planning and tourism authorities and the Land Department, took no action.