The issue of tables and chairs that are choking our pavements, squares and streets needs no introduction. Despite the various promises made by the Government that action will be taken against the excessive encroachment of public spaces by business and to restore public access, effective action and serious enforcement are still nowhere to be seen.
5 months after we launched the “Il-Bankini taċ-Ċittadini” campaign together with various residents’ groups, on Sunday 22nd September we shall be meeting again in Merchants Street to take to the streets of Valletta for a Protest March. We will be passing through some streets in Valletta — that look more like an obstacle course with each passing day — to highlight how safe and public access is practically non-existent.
The rampant take-up of public land by business is adding to the deterioration of our quality of life. The various demands put forward by residents’ groups from some of the most affected localities, who are calling for the current law to be revised and made more robust, for effective enforcement, and for transparency in the way encroachment permits are issued, have largely been ignored by the authorities.
We therefore encourage you to join us on Sunday 22nd September to make our voices heard against the abusive takeover of public spaces.
See you in Merchants Street at 12.15pm near the MUŻA museum.
Don’t forget to visit our website “Il-Bankini taċ-Ċittadini” to see the demands put forward by us and the various residents’ groups: https://www.ilbankinitaccittadini.org/
Residents’ groups:
Sliema Residents Association
Residenti Beltin
Marsaskala Residents Network
Azzjoni Tuna Artna Lura
Mellieħa Residents
San Pawl il-Baħar Residents
Marsaxlokk Heritage Group
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Il-problema tal-imwejjed u s-siġġijiet li qed joħonqu l-bankini, il-pjazez u t-toroq tagħna qiegħda fuq fomm kulħadd. Minkejja diversi wegħdiet mill-Gvern li se tittieħed azzjoni biex l-ispazji pubbliċi li nħatfu mill-kummerċ jingħataw lura lin-nies, s’issa għadna ma rajna l-ebda forma ta’ azzjoni effettiva jew infurzar serju.
5 xhur wara li flimkien ma’ għadd ta’ gruppi ta’ residenti nedejna l-kampanja “Il-Bankini taċ-Ċittadini”, il-Ħadd 22 ta’ Settembru se nerġgħu niltaqgħu fi Triq il-Merkanti fil-Belt Valletta, biex minn hemm nagħmlu marċ ta’ protesta tul it-toroq tal-Belt. Se nkunu qed ngħaddu minn uħud mill-aktar toroq affettwati fejn l-aċċess sigur u bla xkiel għan-nies huwa prattikament ineżistenti.
Il-ħtif tal-ispazji pubbliċi tagħna mill-kummerċ issa qabeż kull limitu aċċettabbli. Id-diversi talbiet tal-għaqdiet tar-residenti li ġejjin mill-aktar lokalitajiet affettwati għal reviżjoni u tisħiħ tal-liġi attwali, għal infurzar serju, u għal trasparenza fil-mod kif jingħataw il-permessi għal okkupazzjoni ta’ art pubblika baqgħu qatt ma ġew indirizzati mill-awtoritajiet.
Għalhekk, inħeġġukom biex il-Ħadd 22 ta’ Settembru tingħaqdu magħna sabiex insemmgħu leħinna mat-toroq tal-Belt kontra t-teħid bla rażan tal-ispazji pubbliċi tagħna.
Narawkom fi Triq il-Merkanti fil-12.15pm ħdejn il-mużew MUŻA.
Infakkrukom iżżuru s-sit tagħna “Il-Bankini taċ-Ċittadini” fejn tistgħu taraw it-talbiet li ressaqna flimkien mal-għaqdiet tar-residenti: https://www.ilbankinitaccittadini.org/
Għaqdiet tar-residenti:
Għaqda Residenti Slimiżi
Residenti Beltin
Marsaskala Residents Network
Azzjoni Tuna Artna Lura
Residenti Melliħin
Residenti San Pawl il-Baħar
Marsaxlokk Heritage Group