Marsalforn restaurant owners have complained of double standards when it comes to enforcement in their locality: While street furniture not covered by an encroachment permit was removed shortly after a written warning, glaring illegal structures have been in place for ages.
Abusive structures in the popular seaside village remain under the threat of enforcement orders or orders for direct action which, however, never seem to be carried through.
The cases include a Mepa direct order on a "platform and non-solid screen and canopy for shelter" constructed some years ago by the Hotel Calypso. An application has now been filed by the hotel for sanctioning.
An enforcement order has also been issued for a concrete platform and ramp and stairs/ramp (referred to direct action) built without a permit at Il-Menqa, an aluminium structure on a pavement without a permit, and variations in internal and external layouts of a building from that approved in the permit, among other infringements.
Enforcement action was taken recently against non-compliant bars and restaurants in Marsalforn as well as in Xlendi when the authorities physically removed illegal street furniture, including plants, from public areas.
A few weeks ago similar enforcement action was taken at establishments along the Strand and Tignè seafront in Sliema. Officials even returned some days later to ensure that the furniture had not been put back in place.
A Marsalforn restaurant owner who preferred not to be named said he did not have an issue with the action, taken by the Malta Tourism Authority, the Lands Department and police officers some days ago, to remove the street furniture, or even with its timing at the peak of the season. His main gripe was the fact that the authorities sprung into action where owners breached their encroachment permits but then were so slow to act on much more serious infringements. What annoys operators most is the feeling that two weights and two measures are applied when dealing with large and small establishments, he said.