The interests of Mellieha and its residents should come first, Mellieha mayor Dario Vella told The Malta Independent when asked about the Armier caravan issue.

A number of caravans have been placed by owners along Malta’s coast and also in popular sea front areas, including Armier, which falls within the confines of Mellieha. Several beachgoers and residents have complained that these caravans are taking up valuable space and spoiling the view.

Replying to questions by this media house, Vella stated that the local council is discussing the issue after a letter it received from the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change & Planning.

Vella stated that the Mellieha local council is committed to working on a tangible solution in conjunction with the central government, in the best interest of the locality.

“Everyone has his own opinion on this project and as a council, we are working to find a solution to seek the best interests of the residents”, which “should come first.”

Vella said that the Mellieha council looks forward to meeting with the Local Councils Association, which will soon will start discussing a proposal by the government of a national policy for caravans.

Minister for Local Government Jose Herrera had told The Malta Independent that “the government is currently in the process of drawing up a “legal notice or policy on a national level” with regard to where people may set up their caravans in the country.

He was speaking after he rejected a caravan bylaw proposed by the Naxxar council after a number of caravans were placed along the Coast Road near Bahar ic-Caghaq, which falls under the responsibility of the Naxxar local council.

Herrera said that his rejection of the bylaw was taken in view of a national policy which is being drawn up to offer a country-wide solution, rather than having different councils taking different ways to tackle the issue.

Herrera stated that the government has the power to restrain bylaws in extraordinary cases, adding that his ministry receives numerous bylaws from various local councils that were approved.