No breach from Għadira Bay operators after shifting sands altered designated area - MTA

The variation in the sand caused by natural winds at Għadira Bay means that concessionaires at the popular Mellieħa beach have been allocated a different designated area to that of the previous year, the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) has told The Malta Independent.

This newsroom recently reported how the beach was once again plagued by endless rows of sun-shades and deckchairs right up to the water’s edge, with a majority put in place early in the day.

This comes just a year following the MTA and Lands Authority clamp-down on operators, a significant number of whom were found to be exceeding their boundaries, with media reports at the time quoting beach-goers who were annoyed to find Għadira Bay had been taken up by empty deckchairs at 6.30am.

“The MTA is bound by contractual agreements, signed on 25 February 2013, that grant permits for operators to function from a set amount of space on the beach. The actual concessionaire area varies every year,” a spokesperson said.

The MTA found that there had been no breach in the conditions of the licence after the authority’s Compliance and Regulatory Directorate investigated the matter, adding that all beaches where beds and umbrellas were provided were monitored daily.

The government, an MTA spokesperson added, was currently working on studies to regenerate Għadira with a sand replenishment exercise which would provide an enhanced sand area, enhanced facilities, and parking, complementing shortterm initiatives such as the introduction of showers, changing rooms and amenities.

The MTA was sent follow-up questions to ascertain whether the concessionaires were required to keep some public space between the deckchairs and the sea, and whether operators could set up their equipment prior to the arrival of beach-goers.