Unless they are obstructing traffic, the transport watchdog cannot take any action about illegally parked caravans.

Transport Malta (TM) also has its hands tied when it comes to unmotorised campers and trailers as they are not registered with the authority, a spokesman told the Times of Malta.

TM was replying to questions sent after caravans descended on Mistra Bay for the summer, to the annoyance of bathers and a businessman who is considering closing his restaurant and leaving Malta.

Read: 'I'm packing up and leaving the island' - Mistra restaurateur gives up

Claude Camilleri told the Times of Malta that he has been losing clients since campers started parking their caravans just outside his terraced restaurant around 2008.

He flagged the issue with ministers, the Malta Tourism Authority, the police and the local council among others, and even filed a criminal complaint against the police for their lack of enforcement.

For Mr Camilleri, the lack of enforcement showed a sense of impunity.

“I have given up. We renovated the place two years ago, investing tens of thousands of euros, but we have decided we will move abroad. This is an issue that has been dragging on for years,” he said.

When contacted, Mellieħa mayor John Buttigieg said that while motor caravans could park by the side as they have a road licence and insurance, the owners cannot place barbecues, chairs, tables and other beach furniture beside the vehicles, or pull out an extendable canopy.

Meanwhile, towed caravans need a parking permit, and the council does not issue permits for such campers anywhere in the locality.

The council itself has drawn the attention of the police and TM about enforcement issues.

TM confirmed with this newspaper that a caravan which has an inbuilt engine could park on public roads just like a standard vehicle. “Naturally, the vehicle must observe traffic regulations,” a spokesman said.

However, unmotorised campers and trailers can only be parked on the road if secured to or towed by a vehicle. 

Any other potential breach of regulations or irregularities would be within the remit of other entities, the spokesman added.

But since unmotorised campers and trailers were not registered with the authority, there was a limit to what actions the authority could take against the owners, unless the vehicles were obstructing the flow of traffic, the TM spokesman noted. 

Questions sent to the police but have so far remained unanswered.