The authority’s case officers will be available to discuss particular cases with applicants having irregular units. The problem with fixed units is that a tailor-made solution has to be found for almost every case. Many establishments do not have access to the roof, where the unit can be hidden out of sight, while others have restricted service shafts which are not suitable for housing air-conditioning units. Others still depend on third parties for access to a space where they can store their processing plant.

Valletta will be used as a pilot scheme and other historic towns and cities which have unsightly units attached to the outside of their buildings will follow shortly.

Much of the delay in publishing the legal notice was the result of the authority deciding to forfeit its fees on applications for the relocation of units, providing these reach the authority by a given date, which will be announced when the legal notice is made public. This will apply even where it is necessary to make adjustments to the façade in order to hide or camouflage the unit. This measure required provisions to the authority’s budget and therefore permission from the Office of the Prime Minister which, in turn, could only be given after a review of the financial implications of the measure.

Asked for his comments, GRTU director general Vince Farrugia confirmed with TMID that they had been consulted. “This is a process that has been going on for years,” he said, adding that GRTU had already managed to negotiate a number of cases with its members. “The solution is not always easy. GRTU is all for the removal of these units, especially the old ones. However, this often entails very complex and expensive alterations,” he said.

“Small enterprises are being expected to comply with a host of new regulations coming from the myriad of authorities that have been set-up. Other countries undergoing such changes give their SMEs incentives, but in Malta these are nowhere to be seen”, he complained. “All these regulations add up to a very heavy burden, which the sector cannot keep carrying on its own for long.”

[email protected]