The planned shelters for horse-drawn cabs, as approved by the planning authority, fail to offer complete protection from the sun and rain, according to the Animal Rights’ Coalition.

Each costing €20,000, they will consist of a roof made of wood strips with spaces between that, according to the coalition, will allow both sun and rain to filter through.

“Had the architect... consulted with the Karozzin Committee, the obvious would be a complete roof coverage protecting the horses from both elements. To add insult to injury, it is the karozzin owners who are being made to pay these exorbitant costs,” the coalition said in a statement in which it criticised the lack of consultation.

The coalition welcomed the draft regulations to regulate the use of animal-drawn means of transport. However, there were certain issues that required clarification and there was need for broader consultation.

Through the new regulations, that are open for public consultation, horse-drawn-cab operators will, for the first time, have to obtain a licence after passing a test on customer service and traffic according to proposed regulations.

They will also have to be covered by an insurance policy and may have their licence suspended, or even withdrawn, if they breach any of the regulations.

In a separate statement the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin said it had asked for an extension to the consultation period that has now been extended till the end of the month.

The union pointed out that more time was needed to discuss the regulations with those it represented. Apart from horse-drawn cabs, these regulations also affected other industries and a number of enthusiasts. One had to ensure a balance was maintained and tradition was allowed to live on, the union said.