Claudia Calleja
Senglea resident says complaints on noisy church clock fell on deaf ears
A Senglea resident yesterday filed a judicial protest complaining about the "intolerable and unbearable" chimes of the parish church's clock every quarter of an hour.
Anna Spiteri argued that the sound levels of the chimes were illegal and excessive and that the installation of the clock was not covered by a planning permit.
Ms Spiteri filed the protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court against Archpriest Joe Grech, Archbishop Paul Cremona, the chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the Environment Minister, and Joanna Drake, as the head of Representation of the European Commission in Malta.
She explained that she had been living in Pope Benedict XV Street in Senglea for over 26 years. In 2000, the Senglea parish church installed a new clock in the belfry which was given to it as a gift. But the chimes of the clock's bells every 15 minutes were unbearable, she claimed.
Ms Spiteri commissioned engineer Albert Sacco to examine the sound intensity of the chimes. He reported that the average sound levels in the Senglea square ought to be between 53 and 60 decibels. This was exceeded by 25 to 30 decibels whenever the clock struck every quarter of an hour.
Such noise levels were causing irreparable damage to her as her residence was situated near the church and she worked from home.
She took up the matter with the parish priest and even with the Curia but to no avail.
In the protest, Ms Spiteri argued that the loud chimes were in breach of the EU directive on noise levels according to which Malta ought to have established noise strategic maps by June last year. This was not done and the European Commission did not take any action.
When she called at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) to carry out research about the clock, she was told that its installation amounted to a development. However, it was not covered by a permit and Mepa had not budged.
For the past seven years, Ms Spiteri noted, her complaints about this illegal action had fallen on deaf ears. Her judicial protest was meant to make those involved to abide by the law and to stop the clock making such unbearable noise.
Lawyer Anna Mallia signed the protest.
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21 Comments
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Susan Rocha
Aug 21st 2011, 17:50
The problem is that laws give churches special treatment and exemptions. Noise is a crime. No one or organization should be above the law. And, that means no crime in the name of religion.
Ronnie Gauci
Sep 11th 2008, 21:17
They did not fall on deaf ears, the Senglea church bells were stopped on Tuesday 9th of September 2008. This is a shame!! The last time these were silenced was due to Hitler's bombs on the infamous attack on HMS Illustrous.
We want them back!
Chris Borg
Aug 1st 2008, 12:44
I agree with MR.Portelli, most of the comments here are just inconsiderate
You say that she should move out of senglea if she doesn't like it? In the report it says she had been living there for over 26years, why move out now just because she doesnt like our 'maltese culture'. Being annoyed from church bells going off every 15mins, exceeding the legal noise level by over 25decibels is no way being unpatriotic; There's a limit.
Seems like we're back in the middle ages where the church knows best
John Portelli
Jul 31st 2008, 18:08
When I see comments that try to ridicule an other fellow human I wonder why we claim we are Christians. Some of us are so inconsiderate towards others. As long as we are having fun, then it's all right. I call this a typical "I'm all right **c* you Jack" mentality.
What a pity state of mind!
Alex Ellul
Jul 31st 2008, 14:08
Where I live, hunters start their daily barrage of loud bangs at about 5.00 in the morning, depending on the season, (thank God for the quite Spring that we had) waking up all and sundry, the sick and the healthy, the new borns and the octogenarians, (blessed are the hard of hearing) and we don't complain. How about starting with the useless noises? then proceed quietly, excuse the pun, towards decreasing the level of noise to a humanly acceptable level, this includes, tal-pitrolju, tal-gass, tal-hobz, cars with broken silencers, trucks and other vehicles that wake the dead when going a bit uphill, helicopters hovering above our houses searching for illegal immigrants or whatever. Well, it seems that the authorities may be constrained to set up an Awtorita Dwar il-Hsejjes.
Tanya Briffa
Jul 30th 2008, 22:10
In this country you can never complain about anything to do with the church. This lady is only asking for the racket to be decreased, not for the church bells to stop ringing altogether. I believe as citizens we have a right to complain about anything which is (a) illegal and (b) causing us distress. Here in Naxxar they put loudspeakers in the streets so that on Easter, Good Friday etc. one can hear the church services and procession prayers. The first year my daughter, then two, was terrified. They are way too loud. But does anybody listen? Anything the church does is untouchable.
Nick Borg
Jul 30th 2008, 20:57
@ Rennie Schembri
Dear Mr Schembri,
Regardless of what levels of noise you personally think are acceptable, if noise exceeds the legal level, it is illegal and should be stopped. Not a difficult concept to grasp. And if Ms Spiteri feels the noise is too loud, then that is her right.
Rennie Schembri
Jul 30th 2008, 16:22
It seems to me that there is a misunderstanding here...everybody is mentioning the ringing of the bells when in actual fact, Ms Spiteri is referring to the tolling of the bells (the bells toll about 6 times only which is a matter of 1 minutes or even less)...I wish that everybody realised what the complaint is all about so people will not get confused and misled... Thankyou. Rennie Schembri (Senglea)
M. Schembri
Jul 30th 2008, 15:32
I sympathise with this lady, but is she the only one living next to the church and complaining? On the other hand I think the church authorities should make the clock strike less frequently, if it is proven that the sound is noise polluting.
joe borg
Jul 30th 2008, 15:00
Now we can stop the festi, fireworks,band marches, the national anthem, the regatta, the Mnarja, the ghana, the maltese language, the lampuki, imqaret and pastizzi together with kaghak tal-ghasel, change the national flag and stop calling our island Malta and we could call it Addolorata . Persons like Ms. Spiteri are causing a havoc on our national identity. If you do not like the way of life that occurs in some part of the island then go live in Madliena or ta' l-Ibrag there are very nies puliti living there who they disdain their Maltese identity. They also speak English.
Joseph Galea
Jul 30th 2008, 14:40
It is really quite amazing to see so many bloggers berating this poor woman who is victimised by the excessively loud bell ringing. She has not asked that church bells not be rung but only that they should not be so loud. Nobody - and that includes the churches - has any right to create excessive noise. If indeed Ms. Spiteri's expert's assessment of the noise levels are correct then they are a public nuisance. The parish priest in the first instance should show some Christian charity and take all the required steps to reduce the noise to acceptable levels. If the parish priest refuses, then the curia should order him to do so. For the curia to turn a blind eye (or deaf ear in this case) is unconscionable.
Bertie Buhagiar
Jul 30th 2008, 14:28
Church bells are part of our Maltese culture. Let church bells ring. How does someone living in a church square does not pretend not to hear church bells ringing?
A. Charles
Jul 30th 2008, 13:53
Why do the letters have to be so insulting? Ms. Anna Spiteri is very right in asking that the bells in Senglea are stopped from making excessive noise every 15 minutes, day in day out, every day and every night. I work in Zejtun and on Thursday at 18.15 the bells of the Parish Church ring non-stop for 15 minutes. I have been told it is a tradition. When I ask why on Thursday, the reply is "because it's Thursday"! I have sealed everywhere to lessen the noise but to no avail. I have been told that the revised Canon Law forbids the excessive use of bells. Very few people had watches or clocks in the past.
L Galea
Jul 30th 2008, 13:10
Will we now all be allowed to ban traffic from using our street since they cause noises both during the day and at night?
Go live somewhere else such as a room in a field in the middle of nowhere Ms Spiteri.
Perhaps even then you will start complaining about the wind, thunder and what have you!
carmel taliana
Jul 30th 2008, 12:04
When I left Malta in 1965 for the UK to settle and work, I found it very difficult in the area
where I was living in Norfolk, miles from anywhere and the only thing I longed for was to
listen as being from Valletta of course the time piece of ST Johns Cathedral, the bells of
St Pauls' Shipwreck parish church, the Grand Masters Palace Clock and when the wind was
favourable from where we lived near Upper Barrackka also the bells/clock of the parish
of Floriana St Publius. What is this woman complaining of let them all toll.
If she can not take a joke she should not have joined. WHAT IS WRONG WITH BELL
ringing? If she suffers from ear ache all she needs to do is stuff hear ears with some
cotton wool. Malta went backwards was since the labour government of long time ago
issued laws for bells to stop ringing.
LET BELLS AND CLOCKS RING - it shows that there is LIFE ON EARTH.
Rennie Schembri
Jul 30th 2008, 11:19
Ms. Spiteri, I think the bells are not really bothering you...the real problem is that you want to cause trouble and to be difficult...I think you have nothing better to do but to complaint....if the bells are bothering you so much, turn on the radio...You said that you filed a protest against the Archbishop Paul Cremona and Rev. Joe Grech....don't you think they have enough work on there plate?? Of course, they will do nothing for you...as if they have time for these trivial issues!!! You should be proud to live in such a beautiful area...not everybody is lucky enough to live next to the parish church of Senglea...let the bells toll...that's part of our culture and that's what makes us Maltese!!! Rennie Schembri (Senglea)
jane mifsud
Jul 30th 2008, 10:43
Mr Casha, don't rush into conclusions. I live right in between two large churches (both of which have their own feast), and just across the road there's a chapel that still signals 'rosary time' using its bells, so I think I do know what church bells 'noise' is.
Over and above, I never mentioned that it's the lady who should pay for any alterations in her house. Perhaps a compromise between her and the Curia would be possible.
As for loud music, may you pls be informed that I have two very popular wine bars right next door to where i live, and yes, they play loud music during the weekend both late at night, and all Sunday afternoons.
A Daley
Jul 30th 2008, 10:10
Senglea resident says complaints on noisy church clock fell on deaf ears.
Zimbabwe, hello!
Wake up to Zimbabwe!
Ramon Casha
Jul 30th 2008, 10:06
@Jane:
No, there is no way to block such noise. Double glazing can reduce low levels of noise such as traffic and loud conversations, but beyond a certain amplitude the noise penetrates through just about anything.
Besides, why should this resident go to the trouble and cost of altering her house just to accommodate the church's insensitivity?
It is unfortunate that Malta has a lot of people who just love loud noise. Whether it's a stereo at the beach or a previously-quiet spot in the country, cars rocking the neighbourhood with their pounding stereos, "fireworks" which produce nothing but a bang, or church bells clanging throughout the day and most of the night.
It's easy to reject these residents' complaints if you live a nice long way from the church where you can barely hear their faint chimes. It's quite another if you reside anywhere near it and have to contend with the ugly clanging at all times.
The church's attitude of "I don't give a BEEP about you" doesn't help either, even if it is the traditional church response to most things.
R.Cassar
Jul 30th 2008, 09:58
Aircraft making use of most European airports inc MIA have to comply with strict Noise Abatement regulations. Mainly aircraft engines have to be certified Chapter 3 which means certain noise levels can only be heard within the perimeter of the aerodrome.
Thereafter Standard Instrument Departures (SID's) or immediate routes to be flown right after takeoff and these are specifically designed to 1) avoid obstacles (malta not the case), 2) reduction of effect of noise.
Have you ever noticed that immediately after takeoff from runway 13 (pointing towards Birzebbugia), aircraft turn right towards Hal Far ? This is done to avoid overflying Birzebbugia.
Similarly runway 31, a slight left turn is performed to avoid, Qormi, Zebbug and Attard.
For landing a decellerated approach is performed where engines are mainly at idle until the last 4 nautical miles which rev up to some 50%.
One thing about Aviation regulations, these are stricly adhered to and personnel related to such industry take such issues seriosly and professionally.
jane mifsud
Jul 30th 2008, 09:08
I hope that the outcome of this would not create a precedent... church bells are part of the Maltese culture. There are ways and means to block the noise out. Does this mean that people living in the vicinities of the airport now can file a judicial protest against the airlines and the airport for the noise emitted from airplanes during take-off and landing? NO. Double or triple glazing will solve the problem.
Leave church bells alone.