We would like to exercise our right of reply with reference to the editorial ‘When a popular event goes awry’ (March 28).

St Patrick’s Day is not a national day, local festive day or special day that the council celebrates. In the past, the council limited itself to receiving many complaints of vandalism, loud noise and paying thousands of euros to clean up. It definitely was not a “new revenue stream”.

Calls for expression of interest or tender processes are utilised when the council is interested to engage third parties to provide a service to the council and this was not the case, as confirmed in court by the DLG Director.

The facts surrounding this case were that, in September 2016, a private organiser filed a request for a licence to organise a “special event”, for erection of food and drink stalls and live music in terms of articles 10 and 11 of subsidiary legislation 441.04 and 441.07. This is no different to similar events in St Julian’s and elsewhere

The council accepted this proposal simply because this would solve the problem of “spontaneous celebrations” that would ordinarily occur on the day. In fact, the council, while not engaging in the organisation, sponsorship or coordination of the event, was willing to have an applicant who would provide 23 toilets, security officers, transport officers, stand-by ambulances, organise the clean-up of the whole area and deposit €2,000 to cover damages to street furniture and signage.

It was also clear that local commercial outlets, which ordinarily apply for permits to extend bars, were granted the same permits with one condition: that all had to play the same music as the live bands to avoid noise pollution to residents.

It is for these reasons that the proposal was accepted unanimously by all councillors who have the best interest of the locality at heart. This year, the council has taken note of the manner in which events unfolded and is committed to work with all interested stakeholders to avoid repetition of this year’s events.