Pavement pinchers facing Mepa action

Three outlets with illegal outside-seating structures along the Sliema Strand were served enforcement orders by the planning authority, Times of Malta has learnt. The two restaurants and a hotel were accused of putting up permanent structures to roof over the pavement and place chairs and tables outside. Earlier this month this newspaper reported on resident concerns over the mushrooming of outside seating areas that gobbled up parking spaces and obstructed the pavement. After investigating the various outlets along the stretch of road from Gżira to Sliema, a spokesman for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority said enforcement action had started against all illegalities identified. The planning authority website lists enforcement orders against the Sliema Hotel, Tex Mex restaurant and Medasia. It is unclear whether others are in the offing. An enforcement order against the Sliema Hotel was issued for the setting up of “a permanent tented structure” and for placing tables and chairs on the pavement without a permit. Tex Mex restaurant was found to have put up a permanent canopy structure in front of the establishment that included a metal frame and which was not included in...