Momentum has welcomed the strong recommendations issued by the Ombudsman, calling for tougher penalties on illegal developments and urgent measures to tackle irregular kiosks and mobile structures that continue to undermine planning rules and put residents at risk.

The Party said that these recommendations directly follow its formal call last week for the Ombudsman to investigate the dangerous and illegal structures along the Sliema and Gzira seafront, “where unregulated canopies and outdoor extensions have created serious fire, health and safety hazards for residents and the wider public.”

Momentum’s spokesperson Matthew Agius said, “we are pleased to see the Ombudsman responding swiftly to our call for urgent action. Yesterday’s statement confirms what residents and community groups have known for far too long: existing laws and fines are not enough to deter persistent abuse. This failure leaves communities exposed to unnecessary risks and erodes trust in the rule of law.”

Agius added, “residents in many other communities, are living with daily obstruction, safety hazards and the blatant takeover of public spaces. The fact that illegal structures can simply be wheeled away or reinstalled shows how broken the current system is.”

Momentum now calls on the Planning Ministry, the Planning Authority and all responsible agencies to act immediately to implement the Ombudsman’s recommendations in full “and to restore safety, accessibility and fairness in our urban spaces.”

“This is about ensuring that the law applies equally to everyone and that public safety, accessibility and residents’ quality of life are protected. The government must ensure that businesses can operate within a level playing field and therefore must stop ignoring the institutions that are doing their job and start backing them up with real action,” Agius said.

Momentum concluded by saying that it “remains committed to fighting for proper enforcement, transparent governance and safer, healthier communities for all.”

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