Residenti San Pawl il-Baħar, supported by several NGOs and resident’s groups, descended on the 'Perched Beach' demanding their rights to a free and unencumbered beach last Sunday. 

In a statement, the residents, supported by Għaqda Residenti Slimiżi, Residenti Beltin, Marsaskala Residents Network, Azzjoni Tuna Artna Lura, Residenti Melliħin, Marsaxlokk Heritage Group, as well as Moviment Graffitti and Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, commented particularly on the Perched Beach in Bugibba.

In 2006, the perched beach had cost Lm456,516, to build the structure of the perched beach and fill it with artificial sand. The original rocky beach was transformed into a 2000 sq m sandy beach, raised above sea level and equipped with bridges and ladders.

“However, since 2006, two-thirds of this public beach have been seized by tourism operators, reducing the public area to only a third of the beach, while one third is occupied by Amazonia and the other by DB Group,” the NGOs said.

In 2017 the Planning Authority approved hotelier Silvio Debono’s (DB Group) project to build a new beach lido in Bugibba on the perched beach, and excavate a tunnel linking it to the San Antonio Hotel. “This year the PA also sanctioned (legalised) DB’s internal and external alterations, abusive beach furniture and bar etc on the perched beach, while DB’s sunbeds have completely taken over the public’s stretch of land by the seashore,” they added.

The Dolmen Hotel’s plans to build two kiosks on top of two pool deck levels and two restaurants along the Buġibba promenade are set for approval. The new structures will replace the current Amazonia lido which also occupies public beach between the Dolmen Hotel and Bugibba’s perched beach which it also encroaches. This project, approved despite objections by the St Paul's Bay Local Council, increases the built-up area on the perched beach, from 74 to 113 square metres, narrowing the existing public passageway.

In addition to the original €1.6 million of public funds spent to built this perched beach, this year, the MTA announced that over €900,000 were spent to replenish St George’s Bay in St Julians and the Buġibba “perched beach” with artificial sand, yet fully two-thirds of this beach paid for and maintained by the taxpayer has been given over to business barons, DB’s Amazonia Lido, Nine Lives, and the Tumas Group’s Dolmen Hotel, leaving the public packed on the remaining one-third, the NGOs said.

“This is far from the ‘balance’ that the government has been promising citizens. This perched beach is funded by the public for the public and not for private use,” it added.

The residents noted that at the same time, St Paul’s Bay residents are being deprived of swimming facilities at the Għar tal-Veċċja which is in a dangerous state due to erosion. The residents and users of the beach there are in favour of safeguarding the area as it is not only the cave that is dangerous but also nearby buildings and Triq Stella Maris itself. 

The residents said that a year ago, they had come to an agreement with the government that boulders would be placed opposite the cave to mitigate wave damage, while two concrete stairs with platforms would be built to provide access to the sea. However, after a Cabinet reshuffle, fresh plans were submitted without such access on the pretext of safety, when the most unsafe area is still accessible and frequented by youths jumping from on top of the unstable cave in Triq Stella Maris.

"Residents are understandably angry that their solution to create accessibility to the sea whilst blocking the unsafe zone has been ignored by the authorities, leaving them without swimming facilities while exposing the public to danger in an area that has already seen serous accidents due to rock falls,” the NGOs said.

“Malta has the highest population density in Europe and the lowest percentage of area for public recreation. The local protestors supported by other residents’ groups, maintained that the takeover of the seashore in order to enrich tourism operators, and the arrogance in ignoring residents’ rights are environmental injustices that are seriously undermining resident’s physical and mental health, as well as quality of life.”