Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1503087
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 JULY 2023 Letters & Clarifications Major walking organisations join forces WALKING and trekking have seen a great increase in popularity in the last few years, with numerous people of all ages and from all walks of life taking up this pastime as their preferred mode of fit- ness and relaxation. More people than ever are seeking to practice this activi- ty, both in our towns and especially in our coastal and countryside areas. Unfortunately, this influx of people wishing to enjoy the countryside has created friction with other coun- tryside users and landowners, with ancient country pathways which have been enjoyed for ages being suddenly blocked. In order to protect ancient rights of way and advance the interests of their members, four of Malta's largest walking and trekking groups will be joining forces with The Ramblers' As- sociation of Malta in order to be able to speak with one voice when it comes to the problems being regularly faced by walkers in Malta and Gozo. The four groups are Leisure Ven- tures, Trekking Malta, Trail Makers and XirCammini. By coming together these walking organisations have also agreed to use a common 'green country code' when carrying out their activities in order to minimise their impact on the environment and on other country- side users and landowners. Through these efforts, the walking groups aim to educate the public to be respectful and avoid things such as trampling, littering, damage to flora and fauna and undue disturbance to others. The aforementioned groups wish to recognise that there are other walking groups in Malta and Gozo, both new and long established. The founding members of this coa- lition look forward to expanding this alliance further in the near future. Ingram Bondin (Ramblers' Associa- tion), Stanley Borg (Trekking Malta), Giovanni Camilleri (Trail Makers), Bernard Schranz (Leisure Ventures) and James Portelli (Xir Cammini) Rocky beach accessibility SINCE my childhood, I have been swim- ming on rocky beaches around Malta. Sand is not really my thing. But now that I am in my 70s it is becoming more dif- ficult for me to access some of the rocky beaches. I believe accessibility to rocky areas should improve to give people like me the option to continue swimming and enjoy- ing the summer. Wooden footpaths of a temporary nature should be installed at the start of every summer season and then removed at the end of September. Raised footpaths should not harm the ecology in our rocky areas but they will be of immense service to elderly people, wheelchair users and people with chil- dren. After all, with our beaches being so crowded as a result of the population boom and influx of tourists in summer, it would help to improve access to other areas thus creating more space for swim- mers to enjoy the sea. There is nothing better than a dip in the cool Mediterranean Sea, especially for an elderly person like myself. P.J. Abela Via email Reserved blue parking boxes IS it my impression that the number of blue parking boxes reserved for specific individuals are mushrooming at an in- credible rate? Are all these reserved park- ing spaces genuine cases, or is someone abusing just to secure a parking space outside their door? I believe that whenever blue parking spaces reserved for specific individuals are created these should be periodically reviewed to determine whether the per- son or family are still eligible. It is OK for those who require such parking spaces to be afforded this special treatment if it makes it easier for them to function. But abuse should not be tolerated, especially when parking facilities in towns and vil- lages are hard to come by. John Schembri St Paul's Bay