The Labour Party club in Valletta, now redesigned as Rosso Restaurant, has begun making use of the government’s tables and chairs policy months before their permit has even been approved.

The planning application (PA/05784/19) asking for an extension onto Republic Street is still awaiting recommendation with a final decision expected to take place on 23 November 2019.

The ‘tables and chairs’ policy, which was introduced in 2013 and targeted at promoting an ‘al fresco’ experience in touristic hubs, has been controversial with eager restauranteurs occupying more and more of Malta’s public spaces.

The initiative has also been plagued by numerous abuses, New policies aimed at curtailing encroachment abuse appears to have yielded few results, with daily illegalities regularly witnessed by residents.

In fact, local councils have regularly flagged their disproval at the haphazard dishing out such applications.

It remains to be seen whether enforcement officers will act upon the newly rebranded ‘Rosso’. However, questions must be asked as to what kind of message the country’s ruling party is sending by flagrantly ignoring regulation.