Over the last couple of weeks, I have been following the saga in your newspaper of the mushrooming kiosks located in the parking area at the Qbajjar promenade in Marsalforn, which resulted in an environmental eyesore.
Mr Gingell may not be surprised to hear that in spite of the enforcement notice at the car park issued by MEPA, it is still business as usual and both kiosks are still fully functional – one as a take-away (did I hear a yawn from the sanitary authorities!) and the other as an ice cream van. People ask, what is the aim of issuing stop/enforcement notices if these are not rigorously enforced.
The Zebbug local council did not bother to enter the fray so I presume that these structures have its blessing. And since the local council by its inaction condones these illegal structures, it is thus helping to perpetuate an environmental eyesore.
What about MTA. Any aesthetic blemish especially in highly frequented areas should be of concern to it. How can such a structure which looks like a glorified garden shed be tolerated in such a prime area.
What irks me further is the fact that this flagrantly illegal set-up is provided with an electricity supply. Now according to Enemalta regulations, no building will be supplied with an electrical supply unless it fully conforms to MEPA rules. I do recall the recent case of the newly wedded couple that pleaded in vain to have electricity installed in their new home but were denied this service because the apertures did not conform to MEPA’s instructions.
Moreover, may I also point out that the electrical supply to these structures is dangerous and hazardous for this entails a sagging wire attached to two flimsy poles crossing the whole of St Mary Street and the car park itself. This is creating a danger to the large heavy-duty vehicles like cranes, which use this street. One assumes that once no active corrective measures have been implemented, the Enemalta people are more than happy with such a set-up.
One final point – There already is a fixed kiosk in the middle of the promenade that is part of the set-up. Unfortunately, even though it is strategically located with ample space around it where one can place tables and chairs and has a lot of potential, it has never been fully functional; in fact it was never opened this year.
Thus it should be the onus of the Zebbug local council to make full use of these available premises rather than allow the creation of environmental eyesores, which end up becoming permanent.
Jack Debono
XAGHRA