Eight Sliema residents yesterday filed a judicial protest calling upon the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Development Control Commission to protect their rights.

The protest was filed by Joseph Camilleri, Matilda Attard, Jacqueline Higgans, Arthur Higgans, Victoria Higgans, Mario Camilleri, Marcelle Bonello and Henriette Dougall.

The residents told the First Hall of the Civil Court they all owned and resided in apartments in a block called Danube, Tignè Sea Front, Sliema. Both Mepa and the DCC had approved permits submitted by the operator of Costa Cafè authorising the use by the cafè of the pavement and part of the road in front of the residents' property.

The permits had been issued despite the fact that the plans submitted with the applications for the permits did not reflect reality. According to the residents neither the width of the pavement nor the width of the entrance to the apartment block had been indicated correctly on the plans. As a result of these errors, the residents claimed that access to their property was being obstructed for the tables and the canopy erected by the cafè's operator would block the entrance.