Anger at the increasing takeover of public beaches by private interests

A St Paul’s Bay resident raised the alarm on Facebook about commercial activities encroaching on local beaches last month, highlighting concerns about the privatisation of these public spaces and requesting clarification from the local council.

The post drew attention to the increasing number of sunbeds on public beaches. The resident asked whether the beaches were publicly accessible or privately owned and urged the council to provide an answer.

Mayor Ċensu Galea responded to a post on the Gillieru area, explaining that the government had developed the area in the late 1980s to protect the Menqa wall, create a leisure space, and provide winter boat parking. He said the area was never intended to be private.

Sunbeds and umbrellas at Gillieru, despite the locality’s mayor saying ‘it was never intended to be private’.

Galea acknowledged the recent increase in the number of sunbeds. He promised the newly-elected council would investigate whether any authority had approved these installations but said the council had no power to remove them. He also said he hoped the previous council had raised objections if consulted.

Residents and tourists complain that commercial activities are encroaching on public land. One noted, “They started with six sunbeds; after a week, there were 12. People do what they want here.”

Another expressed frustration with the loss of public beaches, saying, “Everywhere is being taken over. What a shame.”

There were concerns about the lack of enforcement. “The deck chairs aren’t the issue; it’s that they’re permanently on public land as if it’s theirs.”

This issue reflects a broader trend affecting other Maltese beaches like Perched Beach, Għadira, and Comino.

Concern about the future of public access to beaches is growing, with fears that more commercial setups will follow. Desmond Zammit Marmarà, a former councillor and Labour activist, highlighted this in a June article, noting that commercial operators are increasingly crowding public beaches with umbrellas and sunbeds.

The dispute underscores the challenge of balancing public access with commercial interests.

Similar concerns have been raised about Pawlino’s Restaurant, which appears to have taken over public space for outdoor seating. Frustration over such actions is evident, with locals feeling that “everyone does as they please” in Malta.

In late June, Arnold Cassola highlighted the expansion of commercial spaces on Bugibba beach, including the Nine Lives Restaurant and Dolmen Hotel. Cassola’s post criticised the ongoing takeover of public land by commercial operators, noting the addition of more deckchairs and structures.

During a protest in April, Sandra Gauci, Leader of ADPD – The Green Party and Local Councillor in St Paul’s Bay, criticised a legal notice she believed was causing public hardship. Gauci condemned the expansion of restaurant spaces onto public land, including beaches, and voiced concerns about the gradual appropriation of these areas for profit.

She stressed the importance of preserving public spaces as free and accessible, asserting, “We deserve better. We cannot keep fighting for what is rightfully ours.”

                           

Sign up to our newsletter

Stay in the know

Get special updates directly in your inbox
Don't worry we do not spam
                           
                               
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Anne R. key
Anne R. key
3 months ago

Malta no longer belongs to the people but to a bunch of bullies…..!

Karistu Debono
Karistu Debono
3 months ago
Reply to  Anne R. key

Rich and politically connected bullies.

Out of Curiosity
Out of Curiosity
3 months ago

This country has gone to the dogs. We are living in a jungle where the most powerful reigns supreme. The business community hijacked our islands and enforcement is completely absent. The Maltese are being taken over by foreigners and the government continues to treat us as imbeciles. We are just numbers and mean nothing if not to be exploited for votes by unscrupulous politicians.

JacC
JacC
3 months ago

Maltese businesses are bringing foreigners here because the Maltese won’t get out of bed for the money they expect others to live on so look at your own people if you want to place blame

Anthony Buttigieg
Anthony Buttigieg
3 months ago

No one cares anymore in this disgraceful country , though everyone is moaning & complaining not only about this matter action is taken by nobody and All this has the Gov blessing thats why.

Carmelo borg
3 months ago

Area TAL gillieru bdiet tigi abbuzata min meta WIEHED mis sidien TAL lukanda KIEN MEMBRU TAL kunsill ghan naha TAL lejbur
Din id darba BAQA l art

Alfred Debono
Alfred Debono
3 months ago

Look at Ghadira bay Mellieha it gets smaller each year for the public and bigger for beach contractors. They’re taking also our beaches. Govt in league with the big contractors

Melanie
Melanie
3 months ago

Same at Riviera. Singita has taken up the whole beach with sunbeds, leaving about 10 metres of sand for beach goers since the other half of the beach is covered in rocks. It’s disgusting.

Last edited 3 months ago by Melanie
Karistu Debono
Karistu Debono
3 months ago
Reply to  Melanie

Name and shame -loudly. That way people who are against this encroachment will just boycott the place. Singita has a nerve! Started with towels and now it’s loungers. Is that place even licenced to be there?

Karm Pace
Karm Pace
3 months ago

Bla bla bla kulħadd iparla u ma jsir xejn. Kulħadd jaħtaf imbaghad naraw. Kunsilli bla poter li jwaqqfuhm. Pastizzi blaħaxu. Dak is-sur tal- konkos li qed itellgħu ma’ xatt il-bahar ħadd ma jarax? Dak skont il- permess?

Kurt Mifsud
Kurt Mifsud
3 months ago

Meanwhile Greece are taking all these hijackers down by force, even using drones. And we’re supposed to be competing with them in tourism???

Mirjana
Mirjana
3 months ago

Until we don’t go on streets and protests, nothing will change.

Mark Tanti
Mark Tanti
3 months ago

The beaches are being taken by these pigs. Everywhere. Something drastic has to be done. Start from Ghadira

Lustitia
Lustitia
3 months ago

What about the Xemxija, Ghadira and Armier boathouses?

Donald Bezzina
Donald Bezzina
3 months ago

That is what you get for voting in the same system.

Emmanuel
Emmanuel
3 months ago

Illegal encroachment of the foreshore sanctioned post facto by the government has robbed the public of its natural and legitimate right to enjoy our beaches. This practice is outrageous and must be stopped. Who said ‘ Malta taghna lkoll’?.

Aldo
Aldo
3 months ago

The root of all evil is the way political parties are financed. Tell me how one can say no to some business that has just donated a hefty sum to the coffers of some pl or pn? And no the alternative parties will always remain fringe unfortunately..

Anne R. key
Anne R. key
3 months ago

From the top picture, one can see construction going on AND IT IS THE PEAK OF SUMMER, IN A TOURIST ZONE …… HELLO!!!!!

Related Stories

Court rules Siggiewi land used as quarry by Polidano to be returned to public
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a sizeable
Four chiefs in four months while health sector procurement faces delays
The government’s Central Procurement and Supplies Unit (CPSU), one

Our Awards and Media Partners

Award logo Award logo Award logo