Chairs and tables to brighten up urban centres

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is relaxing its policy on the placing of tables and chairs outside bars and restaurants to embellish and brighten up urban centres, the parliamentary secretary for the environment, George Pullicino, said.

He said MEPA was changing its current Structure Plan policy in favour of a "more liberal official attitude to the placing of chairs and tables on public land" by removing the requirement of on-site parking, or the Commuted Payment Parking Scheme contribution.

The new policy does not apply to fixed and mobile kiosks, Mr Pullicino pointed out.

Until now, development permission for the placing of chairs and tables in these areas was obtained on condition that on-site parking was provided, or that a contribution was made to the CPPS, which would go towards improving parking and traffic provisions in the locality.

To reduce the level of bureaucracy, MEPA had agreed to involve the two other main agencies, the Malta Tourism Authority and the Lands Department, to "streamline the application process and synergise submission requirements", creating a one-stop shop concept.

Procedures were being "liberalised" to encourage the use of public space, but Mr Pullicino insisted that it would not be a case of a "free for all".

A legal notice published last year allowed the placing of tables and chairs outside catering establishments in most cases, without the need to apply for a full development permit. The developer just has to notify MEPA of the intention to place tables and chairs outside an establishment and ensure that certain requirements concerning pedestrian passageways and traffic obstruction are met.

Applicants would now be getting "one answer from one location", Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said.

According to Dr Refalo, tourism operators welcomed the new arrangement and less complicated procedures.

Dr Refalo had no doubt that a number of catering establishments and bar operators placed tables and chairs on public land without any right to do so.

Now that the government was applying a more liberal policy, the need was felt to monitor and regularise the situation, which had got out of hand over the years.

Around 700 tables have been placed on public land outside establishments in Sliema and St Julian's, according to a count carried out last month by tourism department inspectors. The first results showed a total 534 tables in Sliema and 165 in St Julian's, but Dr Refalo said he could not tell how many actually had a permit.

The joint initiative between the tourism and home affairs and environment ministries was designed to bring as many establishments as possible in line with the law.

The plan is to advertise and write to those identified to date, send them an application form and, unless already licensed, call on them to apply and regularise their position. Those that had already paid the CPPS contribution would have it refunded if they were in conformity with the law, Mr Pullicino said.

The Estate Management Department would be using painted markings on the ground to delineate licensed areas, and brass studs in historical sites to mark the space allotted to each establishment.