Updated at 9.25pm with MTA reaction

Complaints of “abuse” by the operators of the popular Surfside Lido in Sliema have prompted the Malta Tourism Authority to take action early this monring

Beachgoers who frequent the area regularly contacted the Times of Malta saying that public access to the beach was being blocked so that passers-by could walk through the outlet.

They also claimed that part of the rocks adjacent to the lido was been “abusively” occupied by the operators by placing there a number of large sunbeds for rental.

“It is shameful we have to complain about these things every summer,” a 40-year-old Sliema resident said.

“My elderly mother who lives across the road and is in her 80s has to take a long walk along Tower Road to have a dip in the sea just because the guys at Surfside decided to close off the passageway. This is not fair and the authorities need to stop this once and for all,” he complained.

Apart from blocking off access to the coast, they [the operators] are occupying a substantial area on the rocks to hire out large sunbeds

“This year, we have an addition to the ‘irregularities’,” a mother of two young children said. “Apart from blocking off access to the coast, they [the operators] are occupying a substantial area on the rocks to hire out large sunbeds. Is this legal? Do they have a permit? Why are we allowing this small island to become a free for all” a visibly irritated woman said.

“We have been coming here for a good 10 summers”, a British tourist noted, “ and it seems this place (Surfside) keeps getting bigger and bigger.” Contacted by this newspaper after forwarding pictures of the ‘irregularities’, a Planning Authority spokesman channelled this newspaper to the Malta Tourism Authority.

“Please note that the issue of the renting out of deckchairs is an MTA and Land [Authority] issue,” he said. “We would not know whether a permit would have been issued by the authorities,” he added.

Although the pictures showed a public passage being blocked by stacks of deckchairs, the spokesman said that was not against the law.

“A picture shows a number of sunbeds that are stacked. This cannot be a permanent structure,” he pointed out.

Updated with MTA reaction

The Malta Tourism Authority went there this morning at 8 but found everything in order, with nothing stacked outside, presumably because he had already been warned to comply, a spokesman said.

However, the MTA officials gave him another warning and advised him that he could not operate outside the premises. The spokesman said that the MTA would follow up on a regular basis.

Similar complaints had been reported by this newspaper last year, following which access to the shore through the lido was reopened.