An umbrella and deckchair battle may be looming on the horizon at Ramla l-Ħamra, Gozo, compounded by the dearth of any holistic planning for the beach’s management as well as by the involvement of various regulatory entities.

Yesterday, the Planning Authority recommended the approval of two applications seeking to reserve parking spaces from which deckchairs, umbrellas and other beach accessories may be rented from a parked vehicle.

But the Ramla Sunbeds and Umbrellas Co-op objected vehemently to the applications, claiming that the proposals taking up around 50 square metres along Triq ir-Ramla would allow the new operator to reach prospective clients “before his competitors”, while taking up “precious parking unnecessarily”.

The co-operative’s founding members had been competing against each other for some time before coming together last year.

According to these objectors, whose Planning Authority permit to carry out similar activity was issued last year, one of the applications sought a reserved parking space on a site that was already governed by another permit.

Originally, the Planning Directorate recommended refusal, in view of the authority’s policy against new permits in the area, pending the approval of a management plan.

However, the Planning Commission, which has the final say on applications, remarked that it was in favour of a temporary two-year permit pending the approval of the bay’s management plan.

One proposed parking space.

During the hearing, the opponents to the proposals questioned the Planning Authority’s competence to issue a “hawker’s licence” but the applicants retorted that they were only seeking a similar permit to that obtained by the objectors last year.

Seven different authorities and a maze of regulations deal with the permission and enforcement of hawkers and kiosks

Seven different authorities and a maze of regulations deal with the permission and enforcement of hawkers and kiosks.

While hawkers and kiosks require a licence issued by the Trade Department, enforcement depends on whether the kiosk is mobile or fixed.

Fixed kiosks are regulated by the Malta Tourism Authority, the local council issues one-off permits, and a Planning Authority permit is necessary if tables and chairs are to be used.

When food is being sold, prior approval by the health authorities must be sought.

Then Transport Malta intervenes to check if a large parked vehicle is likely to pose a safety hazard, and an encroachment permit from the Lands Department’s may be required.

The police are eventually involved when non-compliance is an offence at law.

The Planning Authority’s final decision on the two new stations renting umbrellas and deckchairs will be delivered at the end of the month.