Access to public beaches

I refer to the report (July 26) about Alternattiva Demokratika's appeal to the authorities to ensure that the public is allowed free access to our beaches.

The authorities need only take a close look at what is going on at one of our main beaches (Ghadira). By 9.30 each morning the best part of the shoreline is already neatly lined out with colourful umbrellas and empty sunbeds controlled by various operators at the beach. A couple of metres of space is normally left "free", marking the "no man's land" between one operator's space and the next. This is the only space reserved for those families who do not need to hire any umbrellas/sunbeds, unless they are daring enough to go and plant one's own umbrella and possessions right in the middle of the operator's "territory".

It is ironic that during weekdays, especially in the morning, you will notice that quite a number of the strategically placed operators' umbrellas/sunbeds are standing there unoccupied but taking up the best part of the beach, while a number of Maltese families are packed like sardines in the little space by the shoreline left "free" by these operators.

All that is required to control and manage the situation is a clear demarcation of the shoreline to be allowed to each operator and in the process reserving a bigger area to those families who wish to put up their own umbrella/s.

A related topic is the use of public beaches for barbecues. On July 30, again at Ghadira bay, I was amazed to follow the setting up of a mega private barbecue. An area of the beach which I calculated to be one-third the size of a football pitch was cordoned off with long wooden tables seating well over 100 people. In the centre, the organisers put up a full-size mast from which they strung a series of light bulbs reaching to each corner of the barbecue area. Of course, electricity was supplied through a full-size generator mounted on a truck parked by the beach.

Fortunately, the mega speaker/amplifier system was still being set up when I left the beach. I am quite sure that the numerous families planning a relaxing evening barbecue by the beach were in for a nasty surprise!

I assume that the organisation of such an extended activity, claiming a significant area of public beach and disturbing the immediate surroundings, requires some form of police permit. What amazes me still is how such a permit could be issued without taking into consideration the overall well-being of other families who have an equal right to make good clean use of a public beach with minimum disturbance.