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Sleepless nights

Several readers have complained recently about the unacceptably loud outdoor discotheques which plague our nights several times a week in summer.

This is not a new situation but one which has been allowed to carry on for years, at the expense of those of us unfortunate enough to live within a 5km radius of two discotheques in particular – Gianpula and Numero Uno.

Reports to the police, letters to the newspapers and complaints to local councils have made no difference whatsoever. Last week, for example, we phoned the police station in Mdina to complain about a Ta’ Qali disco (MFCC or Numero Uno) which was so loud that it was impossible for us to sleep. The policeman on duty admitted that we were not the first to report this.

A few days later, we had to call the Rabat police station at 4.20 a.m. as the Gianpula DJ was still playing deafeningly loud music involving heart-thumping drum and bass sounds, which resulted in another sleepless night.

The police claim that they respond to public complaints but can do little to change the actual situation, given that permits have been issued.

I feel that the following questions deserve an answer:

1. Why should such outdoor discos be given permits until early morning when it is obvious that many people in Rabat, Mdina, Attard and Żebbuġ have to suffer such an assault on their eardrums two or three times a week?

2. What entity is responsible for issuing the permits and what is their justification?

We are aware that other people have complained about similar circumstances in other localities, so this is actually a nation-wide problem that must be addressed. We are sorely in need of a national policy to remedy this ongoing abuse of the rights of the ordinary citizen. A contributor to The Times mentioned the initiative of the Attard mayor who is asking the public to sign a petition to register the fact that we have had enough.

This is an excellent start but mayors from all the affected localities should also join in since it is high time for some coordinated pressure on the authorities to restore the right of all citizens to a good night’s sleep.

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M Attard

Aug 8th 2012, 15:46

Of course there is no upholding of the law in Malta! This island has become a free-for-all country, where those who dare win. The authorities are all one big joke, passing on the buck from department to another, and never taking any concrete action. Public presence is non-existent, arrogance reigns supreme and the bad are rewarded.

The only thing you and I can do about this sad story is to either emigrate or NOT VOTE.

Anthony Borg

Aug 8th 2012, 20:24

Rightly so Mr.Attard.

Guess I will be one among those in queue of NOT VOTING in the spoof billboard.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120806/local/Battle-of-the-spoof-billboards.431664

GL Calleja

Aug 8th 2012, 17:27

The competent authority are the ones that issued the permits in the first place. Hope that answers your question. The real competent authorities are the proprietors of these establishments Mr Borg.

Simon Robinson

Aug 8th 2012, 13:09

FYI HSE regulations do not apply to 'persons who make an informed decision to attend an event with high levels of noise'

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