During this hot summer season many Maltese and tourists decide to spend some quality time at the beach. However, immediately upon arriving they face a big dilemma.

The whole beach (or the best areas) are full of sunbeds – many of which are not being utilised but still are occupying precious space. What are we going to do? Go to another beach? Unwillingly pay for a sunbed? I say we should take our beach back.

Last week was characterised by the issue that was raised in Marsaxlokk, where a number of people decided to camp and occupy a whole beach for the summer. Now, after a protest (and the problems that occurred during the protest), enforcement action was taken. The campers were forced to pack and leave. Although that is a very good step, I believe that we should take another step and take our beaches back from businessmen who occupy a very large area of the beach and set up many sunbeds with the hope that they lure some customers. I believe that this is fundamentally wrong. The beach is a public area (unless it’s a private beach) and therefore nobody should occupy that area for profit-making purposes.

All public beaches should be enjoyed by everybody without the need or pressure to pay. When a beach is full of sunbeds, it is pressuring people to rent one because if they don’t, there will not be any more space left.

■ Andrea Gatt