Din l-Art Helwa this morning commended the planning authority's unanimous decision refusing applications from two Sliema hotels to develop stretches of rocky foreshore into beach concessions and lidos.

It welcomed Mepa’s adherence to the current Structure Plan policies which protected the coast and secured public access and hoped these legal restrictions would continue to exist in the forthcoming plan, due to relax many policies in favour of development.

The NGO said it also hoped this decision would serve as a deterrent to those making plans to take up public coastal areas for private use and those already doing so illegally.

The rare pockets of coastline that still existed had to be protected at all costs, it said, adding that Malta’s shores were fast becoming one private ring road of concrete, affording little or no public enjoyment of free spaces, no visual relief from clutter, and scarce protection of Mediterranean biodiversity.