Remember the time when timeshare touts on the Sliema front, Buġibba and other seaside places used to pester tourists so much that they used to write about it frequently in this newspaper? For a time, it appeared they could not be controlled. That timeshare craze appears to be over but there are other irritants, inconveniences and illegalities today that call for action by whoever is in charge to stop them.

Instead of timeshare touts, the Sliema front today has cruise agencies’ representatives selling harbour cruises, though they are nowhere near as aggressive as timeshare touts.

There is no harm in cruise agencies having ticket stalls on the front but the trade ought to be controlled. Furthermore, their stalls need to be in one place, not scattered all along the stretch where the boats are berthed. The front is too cluttered with stalls, kiosks and publicity boards.

There are other matters that ought to be checked, or at least controlled, such as the putting up of billboards without a permit. Many street hawkers ignore the conditions of their licences regularly and street vendors have now taken to displaying their goods not just on the ground but on benches too.

Restaurants are taking over whole stretches of pavement – with or without a permit – and owners of mobile kiosks tend to hog key points in promenades and streets at a whim.

Sliema mayor Anthony Chircop put it this way: “We are worried about the number of illegalities that are continuously happening. Residents have been reporting them to the council but the council does not have the power to take enforcement action.”

This is happening not just in Sliema but in other localities as well.

If councils do not have the power to deal with enforcement of the rules and regulations governing these matters, the authorities charged with checking irregularities ought to at least heed the councils’ complaints and act on their behalf. But, according to the Sliema mayor, no effective action is being taken, even though the council had held meetings over the complaints with the authorities concerned.

Such irregularities are happening so often that they give the impression that some people are above the law and can do whatever they like. Of course, hawkers, traders and seaside restaurateurs have to earn a living too but they should not inconvenience residents.

In places where restaurants are given permission to place tables outside, they ought to ensure they allow enough space for pedestrians to walk along the pavement without hindrance.

The space between the restaurant proper and the extended part has to be kept free. Regrettably, many shopkeepers have a habit of exhibiting their wares on the pavement too, obstructing the way for pedestrians.

Parking on pavements is yet another illegality that is annoying residents and pedestrians alike everywhere. Councils should act on this as the practice is catching up rapidly.

At a public discussion on the draft of a new tourism policy last week, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said the Malta Tourism Authority was in the process of recruiting more enforcement officers and the government would also be introducing tourism police. But the government had promised to introduce tourism police almost a year ago and there is no sign of them yet.

The idea was for the police to set up a unit of about 25 uniformed officers stationed at key tourist places. What is holding up the plan?

Greater order and public discipline will create a better environment for all.