Momentum said that it welcomes and fully endorses the position paper published by the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman entitled ‘Ensuring Safe and Unobstructed Mobility on Public Pavements and in Public Places.’

The Party noted that “the report clearly confirms what residents, older persons, persons with disabilities, and families with young children experience daily: that the widespread obstruction of pavements has become a systemic failure of enforcement and governance.”

It pointed out that “public pavements are not an extension of private commercial activity. They are essential for the public and must remain safe, accessible, and unobstructed for everyone.” As the Ombudsman rightly states, “the unchecked spread of tables, chairs, and related furniture is not a minor inconvenience but a serious infringement.”

Momentum stated that “in many cases, people are forced off pavements and into carriageways, creating unnecessary danger and excluding some members of society entirely from public space. This is unacceptable in a modern and inclusive society.”

Katya Compagno, executive member of Momentum, said, “while Malta already has rules that address these issues, what is lacking is not law but the political will for enforcement and transparency on the matter. While outdoor dining and vibrant public spaces can and should coexist with the right of every person to move freely, safely, and with dignity, economic activity should never come at the cost of excluding vulnerable members of society or breaching fundamental rights.”

She added that the Ombudsman proposals fall in line with Momentum proposals to protect Malta’s open spaces published last September and follow on previous calls to remove dangerous and illegal structures along, for example, Sliema and Gzira seafront.

“While in many cases the lack of access to an ambulance has been highlighted, other serious threats are from fire, health and safety hazards, which require the full use of the street when fire trucks are needed,” the Party said.

Momentum urged the Government “to immediately take up and implement all of the Ombudsman’s recommendations. These include full transparency by the Lands Authority on public land concessions, clear physical demarcation of permitted outdoor catering areas, stronger and direct enforcement powers for the Planning Authority, the ability to remove and confiscate illegally placed furniture, and properly resourced local enforcement backed by clear authority.”

It insisted that “accessibility must be integrated at the planning stage, not treated as an afterthought or left to goodwill.”

Katya Compagno added, “accessibility is not a luxury, and enforcement is not optional. Public space belongs to everyone, and it is the State’s responsibility to protect it.”

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