Local councils should make sure there are safety measures on their roads, rather than attacking the livelihood of entrepreneurs, the Association of Catering Establishments (ACE) said on Friday.

It was reacting to a statement made by the Gżira mayor who said the infrastructure should have been improved before establishments were allowed to spread into pavement cafés.

Watch: Gżira mayor warns of bars, restaurants on main roads

Mayor Conrad Borg Manche cast doubts on the safety features being put in place by concessions, questioning whether they would be enough if a speeding car lost control. More than 20 establishments between Manoel Island and the Ferries have now spread their business onto the pavement. 

The association said the catering business was experiencing unprecedented growth and the sector was “doing its best to overcome various challenges”.

While acknowledging the challenges in terms of traffic management and other issues related to more people visiting localities, it insisted these challenges could not be solved by “trying to attack the livelihood of entrepreneurs”.

The association said people prefer to eat and drink outdoors and that many of its members claim they face empty tables indoors but are full outdoors.

“In a democratic country people are free to stay indoors or outdoors irrespective of what others may think of the area,” it said.

It pointed out that there were outdoor establishments in various European cities but that in such cases, it was the local council which ensured that safety measures were in place on the roads.

“Local councils and Transport Malta should work hand in hand to improve the traffic management and road safety to ensure that the localities’ businesses continue to flourish and improve their respective area,” it concluded.