The process for creating “balanced” nation-wide regulations for caravan sites across the island have been initiated by the government, Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, José Herrera told The Malta Independent. 

The regulations seek to find a compromise between giving the opportunity to caravan owners to use their mobile homes as well as alleviate concerns by other residents and reduce the eyesore caravans create.

Herrera was answering questions by The Malta Independent regarding the government’s withholding of a bylaw regarding the impromptu caravan site set up in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq. The bylaw had been issued earlier this by the Naxxar local council, which is responsible for the Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq community.

Herrera noted that his rejection of the Naxxar council bylaw was “not done capriciously”, but due to the fact that the government is currently in the process of drawing up a “legal notice or policy on a national level” regarding where people may set up their caravans around the island.

He stated that his ministry only withholds bylaws in exceptional cases, and that his ministry receives numerous bylaws from various local councils that are approved on a monthly basis.

In this case, he said that approving individual local council bylaws regarding the same issue was futile since once the government’s regulations are unveiled, the respective councils will be able to enforce the same restrictions unanimously.

“I am not withholding this bylaw because I don’t agree with it, but simply for the reason that the central government is planning on issuing a policy regarding caravans on a national level and so it doesn’t make sense at this point in time for every single council to make their own bylaw,” Herrera noted.

“It’s not an easy process because you have to try and create a balance. I can obviously understand the needs of particular citizens of particular towns and villages affected by these sites, but on the other hand, one cannot ignore and sympathise also with the hundreds and hundreds of people who have caravans and are always finding it more difficult where to park their caravans,” concluded Herrera.