A court has temporarily upheld a request by Massive Promotions to stop the authorities from removing the big screen in Spinola Bay, where Euro 2012 matches are being screened.

The company this morning filed a request for a warrant of prohibitory injunction amid calls by businesses for the screen to be removed because it was harming their activity.

This morning, a spokesman for the Lands Department said the department had not issued permits for the screen. 

"We received no requests for permits so steps are going to be taken," the spokesman said when contacted.

Several businesses in the area have complained that the screen is costing them business. But Philippe Gatt, a spokesman for Massive Promotions insisted that  permits were in order and the company would fight its position in court.

The issue is expected to be definitively decided by a judge tomorrow.

Mr Gatt insisted that the activity was not hindering businesses. McDonalds, which has a restaurant nearby was even one of the sponsors, he said.

Owners of restaurants around the area have complained about the screen which, they say, is attracting "football maniacs" to the area and driving their customers away.

They have signed a petition because, they say, it is blocking access to their establishments while the noise is pushing their "first-class" customers away, leading to a loss of business in the peak season.

Tourism Minister Mario de Marco has said he fully understood the complaints and is doing his utmost to resolve the situation.

The owner of three seafront restaurants, Peter Darmanin, said the area was being downgraded and his customers could not be expected to enjoy an al fresco dinner while the match and the "mob's screeches" were blaring in their ears.

Hotel Juliani director Erika Cassar Rouvelas said guests had walked out over the weekend because they had "not chosen to stay in a €260 suite to listen to football".

Meanwhile, St Julians mayor Peter Bonello had defended the big scree,n saying shifting the activity to the promenade from the Tigulio area, where similar events were often held, saved 120 parking spaces.

Mr Bonello denied that access to the restaurants on the promenade was blocked, and shrugged off the loud noise, saying it stopped at 11 p.m.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120613/local/Big-screen-louts-affect-dining-trade.424041