I am aware of the correspondence generated in these columns following Stephan Rizzo's letter (Lands Department's Priority List, October 8), but, having seen its effect in practice today in Marsalforn and Xagħra, may I be permitted to revisit the subject? My query: is Malta shooting itself in the foot by its bureaucratic pursuit of the requirements for licensing the catering use of parts of public land?

With more than 40 years' knowledge of the Maltese islands, and now as a permanent resident, I have been delighted to see the progress in tourism which has recently been made. One of the principal attractions for your visitors has until now been enjoyment of Malta and Gozo's café society with the ability to indulge in al fresco dining at hundreds of cafés and restaurants throughout the islands. With a changing client base, that is likely to be more important in the future.

Today I was unable to enjoy lunch at one of Marsalforn's most popular restaurants because the proprietors had closed it in order to remove the summer awning that had afforded me shelter from the sun on so many occasions this year, in advance of its costly forcible removal. A little earlier I had witnessed the removal by the department's agents of external awnings and dining facilities from two restaurants in the popular Victory Square in Xagħra, at one of which there had been a substantial and internationally highly popular provision of this facility for at least the last 10 years. I was also informed that the most substantial encroachment on public space in Gozo, which in contrast is fully enclosed, had a few days earlier been licensed by the department, thus lifting the threat of intended enforcement action.

I have no doubt that the department had excellent reasons for granting this licence but, given that the venue in question has more than ample internal accommodation for its clientele - and that the others, which are from observation more popular with visitors, do not - it is a little difficult to understand the rationale between the department's apparently differing approaches. Why, for example, is there no published policy as to generally acceptable forms of awnings and canopies, and a standardised annual renewal process for existing licensees in the absence of specified changed circumstances?

While I would be the first to acknowledge that café and restaurant use of public land should be properly controlled, it should be by a transparent and efficient public process capable of review.

From anecdotal evidence, I understand that consent may be required from up to three government departments: the Malta Tourism Authority; the Mepa; and, always, the Lands Department; that licences if and when granted are usually only for a part of the year so that not only does the licensee pay a substantial charge for the licence but, if strictly enforced, has the additional cost of erection and removal of any associated structures such as canopies and the cost of storage during the periods not covered; that there are serious delays in the processing of applications, sometimes running into years; and that no properly reasoned decisions for refusal are given.

It is a situation of almost Kafkaesque proportions. It does not just affect the individual restaurateurs concerned but also the economic fabric of these islands at a time of worldwide economic problems - it is certainly not a time to add to the problems of promoting Malta plc as a tourist venue by a retreat into bureaucratic rectitude irrespective of past abuses.

It is not the fault of individual civil servants that the system has become so unwieldy, but it cries out for prompt political intervention and urgent solution at a high level. The system needs to be streamlined - as a first thought, why not let the MTA make the initial decision in conjunction with the bodies who understand local needs best - the local councils - with a short time limit for making a reasoned decision and a right of review to an independent body which can fairly and openly balance competing interests in a streamlined procedure?

After all, Malta is a progressive member of the European Union - isn't it?