Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/864549
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 AUGUST 2017 5 News Planning ombudsman rues obstruction of pavements by al fresco restaurants DENISE GRECH THE commissioner for envi- ronment and planning has called for a close look into the obstruction of public walk- ways by tables and chairs placed as extensions to cater- ing establishments. Referencing a report issued five years ago, the commis- sioner said that local restau- rants abuse the space afforded to them by overtaking public pavements with extensions. "Clearly there is need for a combined 'task force' to carry out the necessary inspections for reining in abusers," said the commissioner. The obstruction problem is exacerbated by build-outs, loss of parking spaces and noise pollution, according to the commissioner. Pavement areas which have been extended onto the road- way are "an accident waiting to happen" since they leave no space for emergency manoeu- vring for vehicles. Local councils also lament- ed the loss of parking spaces alongside pavements, that result from the restaurant ex- tensions overtaking the area. "Which of the permitting authorities is responsible for the health and safety aspect of such development?" asked the Commissioner. Transport Malta and the Malta Tour- ism Authority and the Lands Authority all have various responsibilities related to the problem. The environment and plan- ning commissioner claimed that the noise generated by these establishments goes unchecked, creating incon- venience and stress for near- by residents, local councils and police. The commissioner also la- mented the lack of hygiene control over the public areas, where diners eat in an en- vironment "thick with dust and exhaust fumes". Health authorities need to be con- cerned about concrete mix- ers, traffic jams and fumes permeating the air while din- ers enjoy their meals. Questions sent to the Envi- ronmental Health Directo- rate by the commissioner re- questing information on food safety procedures have gone unanswered. Price to pay for al fresco Owners of demountable platforms erected to host al fresco diners will be expect- ed to pay a "planning gain" amounting to twice the con- tribution they pay now for taking up parking spaces. Establishments granted a permit to put up demount- able platforms in Sliema and Valletta will now be charged €4,192 for each parking space they occupy. Demountable platforms erected along pavements have mushroomed in Gzira, Slie- ma, Valletta and other loca- tions following the approval a policy that allows restaurants to take up parking spaces as long as they allow a 1.5-metre passage for pedestrians. The policy has been criti- cised by local councils for taking up parking spaces. The PA already charges a contribution on the loss of parking spaces for any devel- opment, which is approved through its Urban Improve- ment Fund or the Commuted Parking Payment Scheme. In Sliema and Valletta this al- ready amounts to €2,096 for each parking space taken. In localities like Rabat the con- tribution to the Urban Im- provement Fund amounts to €1,165 for each parking space lost. Funds raised from these schemes are used to fund traffic management, green transport, urban improve- ments or similar projects. But according to the latest circular issued to all archi- tects in Malta the planning gain in cases of restaurants with outside tables will be twice the amount due for each parking loss. The PA is justifying this saying that establishments with al fresco tables will be charged both for the removal of the existing parking space itself and also to make up for the additional parking space reduction. The contribution for each space is to ref lect the plan- ning contribution which ap- plies for the area. 15 applications for outside chairs and tables have been presented by establishments in Sliema in 2016 and the first half of 2017. Seven applica- tions were presented in Mar- saskala in the same period. Most of the applications involve the erection of a "demountable platform" on spaces previously used for parking. Equality minister dubs Chris Said a threat to 'progressive Malta' DENISE GRECH CHRIS Said is a threat to Malta's progressive stance on equality, equality minister Helena Dall said at a Labour Party press conference on the Nationalist MP's pledge to re- vert terminology in the Mar- riage Equality Act to gender- based terms. The Act changes the terms 'mother' and 'father' to the gender-neutral term 'parent', in an effort to ref lect a more inclusive term in society. "Having the definitions of father and mother removed from our body of laws to be replaced by the more generic 'parent' impoverished our laws," Said said earlier this week in a press conference as part of his campaign to be- come PN leader. Dalli, f lanked by Equality Labour branch leader Clayton Cutajar, said that Said's pledge showed that a Labour govern- ment as "the only hope for people who feel unaccepted in society". Dalli said there was clear evidence that PN candidates thought of gay families as less- er than heterosexual counter- parts, and reference the other PN leadership contender's, Adrian Delia, pledge to give MPs a free vote on moral is- sues such as gay marriage. Dalli said that a free vote was 'unacceptable' and that this type of discourse was evi- dence of candidates that be- lieve that some people should have more civil rights than others. "We need to protect the internationally recognised model we have created," con- tinued the MP, arguing that EU countries have reached out to inquire about the Maltese equality legislative model. Chris Said: 'Not ashamed of using mother and father terms' Chris Said responded to Dal- li's comments, claiming that the Labour Party was embar- rassed of using gender-based terms like 'mother' and 'fa- ther'. Reinstating his commitment to LGBTIQ right, the PN MP proposed that a Nationalist administration would "re-in- troduce the 'mother' and 'fa- ther' terminologies alongside the existing 'parent' term, for those who wish to retain a more generic definition." "If Helena Dalli is too 'em- barassed' of using the terms mother and father, then she has every right to vote against it," Said said. Restaurants are abusing the space afforded to them – Planning Ombudsman