Christian Peregin
Melita takes unsightly advert down from City Gate
Before...and after. Photos: Darrin Zammit Lupi.
Melita has removed its large advertisement from City Gate, Valletta following complaints in the media - but the announcement has aroused suspicion over how the banners were allowed in the first place.
A spokesman for the company said it was the Valletta council which gave the permission after Melita presented the visuals for approval. The company also said it had paid the council to use City Gate as advertising space.
But it turns out the company still did not have the necessary permits since it was asked to remove the advert by the Land Department and the planning authority.
When contacted, the council denied it had given the company any permission and said the only thing it had told Melita was that it had "no objection" to the advertising. A spokesman added that the council had no jurisdiction to allow the hoarding in the first place.
Strangely, however, later in the day a joint statement was issued saying an agreement had been reached for Melita to become the council's official telecoms provider in return for such advertising.
The agreement specifically mentions that "Melita will make use of City Gate for affixing signs with the approval of the council", the statement said.
The council was fully aware of the project since final visuals were sent prior to installation and it granted permits for works to take place, it added.
Melita is also using the euro changeover countdown clocks around the island to help generate publicity for its launch of mobile services.
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d briffa
Jan 31st 2009, 09:58
what i cannot understand is this..
how come mepa and lands have taken action so quickly about this matter??
Places like armier have been abused for so many years and nothing has ever been done..!
Is it a case were pressure has been made by the competing brands!!
Franco Farrugia
Jan 30th 2009, 19:26
How much money was paid for said advertising?
To whom was this money paid?
What was the date when receipts were issued, relative to this money that was paid?
Who signed the receipts and on behalf of which entity?
Was VAT paid on this money?
The people are waiting for some answers.
s.mangion
Jan 30th 2009, 15:54
How about covering the garage door with a large picture of porta reale as it was pre 1964? as I recall this thing was done at Port des bombes when it was being restored some years ago.
Eric Soames
Jan 30th 2009, 15:11
Yes it looks horrible but hanging tawdry advertising material is not the answer. On another note, maybe this move is designed to soften people up to anything R Piano comes up with?
A Green
Jan 30th 2009, 15:09
What I can't understand is how much hassle is brought up over little petty things like this. Going up north to St.Julians I See signs dated back to a month if not more. It's ridiculous. I would much rather have a descent sign up for ten days then some poster of a party for 2 months. Plus as everyone said, the naked gate is not a sight for soar eyes.
Marvin Mizzi
Jan 30th 2009, 13:56
Lets look at the first picture if the Melita advertisment was an eyesore the ugle pictures that stayed there for 3 months on the other side of the gate were they not unsightly as well. They stayed for 3 months and were affixed with all of city gate........ lets not use 2 weights to 2 measures.
mark grima
Jan 30th 2009, 11:52
who designed the city gate? such a big insult
Luke Buttigieg
Jan 30th 2009, 11:16
I agree...the adverts spiced up the gates
Nadia Briffa
Jan 30th 2009, 10:45
Maybe the local council of Valletta realised how UNSIGHLTLY the naked gate is, realised that LANDS, MEPA etc would want a part of the financial pie, so they gave an unofficial nod to go ahead so that the entrance to the capital city looks better without any government departments dipping their foot in it!
Adriana Fenech
Jan 30th 2009, 10:33
@ J Camilleri Baron
Definitely I agree with you. Was much better before.
MEPA should better have a look at Armier and Tigne!!! Shame.
Karl Vella
Jan 30th 2009, 10:12
@J Camilleri Baron
Are you sure that there a need to suggest an online poll?!! The picture is worth more than a thousand words ... I'm sure that the thousands of people that walk through that pseudo door to our capital city will be elated to be greeted with all that gloom and doom. Some people just don't get it, and the Valletta Local council has a lot of explaining to do after it gave the go ahead after it saw the proposed designs.
Melvin Sapiano
Jan 30th 2009, 10:07
the city gate now looks like an ugly old naked hag!!!
Michael Gatt
Jan 30th 2009, 10:05
Spot on J Camilleri Baron!! Now City Gate is really "unsightly"!!
Further to that, do we really have to create a fiasco about everything in this country? And attack companies investing in the potential of the Maltese labour force??
Pathetic!!
Geraldine Debono
Jan 30th 2009, 10:04
No doubt about it.... this is definitely not a case of less is best....!! look at it... it's horrid.... the signage made it look so much better.... and even if this is simply a matter of taste.... which it is...... 10 days was all it was!!! we have to put up with so much longer periods of bad taste. BTW.... if The Times thing that it was 'unslightly' how come they accept the same visuals on their paper, and their website all the time...? no no don't answer that.....cause MONEY TALKS that's why!
J Camilleri Baron
Jan 30th 2009, 09:40
It is horrible! In its bare and naked state, it is nothing but horrendous.....City Gate i mean.
Can I suggest an online poll?
Question is: Which City Gate do you prefer? Before or After?
Personally, i think that the signage on City Gate makes it look much much much better. The most 'unsightly' items now as it lies in its bare state, are definiteky the pigeons, the doughnut and bread vendors! and the stench!