ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci has called out the lack of planning and vision from the government regarding the impacts of the entertainment sector on residential areas which is creating major challenges in many localities.

She insisted that “it’s now time to tackle the detrimental effect of noise pollution caused by the entertainment sector.”

ADPD “continues to insist that the protection of the urban environment, in all its aspects, is essential to sustain the good quality of life of families residing in all localities.”

The matter was addressed during a press conference on noise pollution caused by entertainment activities in various areas of our country.

ADPD spokesperson Marcus Lauri said that the party is revisiting this issue of noise pollution, as despite the many empty promises from various authorities, no effective solution has been found. “This results in several problems that families living in various localities suffer, not least in our capital city, Valletta.”

He pointed out that “the lack of law enforcement in this regard is leading to excessive noise from the early evening until the early hours of the morning, because of which residents cannot rest in their own homes. Although there are clear regulations, these are often not being respected.”

ADPD said that additionally, though spot-checks are being made on several entertainment establishments at closing time, “the customers themselves are the source of noise pollution and the police must intervene to ensure this does not continue to happen.”

If the government wants the entertainment venues in Valletta to work, it should ensure that the police have enough resources to ensure a good quality of life for the families residing in the capital, concluded Lauri.

ADPD Chairperson Sandra Gauci said that it is “evident that the right of the residents to peace of mind and enjoyment of their home is being eroded at a rapid rate. This is due to noise pollution during the day that is caused by construction as well as, in the case of touristic areas, due to the noise that the operation of some of the establishments generates at any time of the day, especially in the evening.”

She added that “the lack of sensitivity and enforcement by the authorities to prevent abuses is of great concern.”

ADPD said that among the activities that are “causing a lot of inconvenience there is the ‘Bora Bora’ establishment impacting a residential area in San Pawl il-Bahar (in Triq il-Kahli and the surrounding streets) with regular events being permitted evidently without giving due importance to counter the detrimental effects of these activities.”

It went on to say that “we find this repeating itself in several localities especially in the summer along the coast and we have addressed several similar complaints over the years. There are also other aspects related to these activities including the encumbering of pavements and roads with tables and chairs of commercial establishments and the dirt left behind by some operators on our roads.”

ADPD stressed that “the lack of foresight with which decisions are made – especially where there is a profit to be made – is becoming more and more normalised. These decisions engender anger, leave residents prisoners in their own homes, and can impact restful sleep. All because noise pollution is not taken seriously and continues to go unchecked by the authorities.”

The Party highlighted the fact that “as trust in the authorities continues to erode, this becomes a David versus Goliath struggle. Those who have money and contacts can act with impunity, while all the rest are victims to a system which doesn’t protect them. This is why we also appeal to local councils to prioritise the needs of the residents, who at the end of the day elect them as their direct representatives.”

This issue is not just confined to Malta, Gozo suffers from the same problems too, not only in the coastal areas of Marsalforn and Xlendi, but also in the heart of Victoria, namely St George’s Square, Independence Square and the surrounding alleys and streets, where bars and restaurants are placing tables and chairs so that the public can hardly pass, and the noise levels are excessive making the quality of life for residents non-existent.

ADPD – The Green Party concluded by saying that it will continue to insist that the protection of the urban environment is essential to sustain a good quality of life. “We need to transition towards people-friendly politics that looks at economic development in a holistic manner and does not just look at what can be measured by numbers.”

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