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9 EDITORIAL BusinessToday is published every Thursday. The newspaper is a MediaToday publication and is distributed to all leading stationers, business and financial institutions and banks. MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EDITOR: PAUL COCKS BusinessToday, MediaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN9016, Malta Newsroom email: bt@mediatoday.com.mt Advertising: afarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Telephone: 00356 21 382741 T he Pacevillisation of Valletta risks killing the goose that lays the golden egg, something that no bona fide op- erator in the capital wants to see. Valletta's revival over the past seven years is to be applauded. It has seen bou- tique hotels mushrooming, restaurants and bars remaining until late, and cultural events that draw the crowds. e capital's nightlife has provided a soberer alterna- tive to other nightspots on the island. But this new lease of life must not be un- dermined by unbridled change that will neutralise Valletta's uniqueness and in the process anger residents. In the latest turn of events government published a legal notice at the start of June by which opening times of bars, restau- rants and entertainment establishments in seven Valletta streets were extended to 2am. e same legal notice, however, also extended the time until when outdoor music can be played to 1am from 11pm. Two more Valletta streets were added to the list early this week. It was not the extended opening time that caused concern but the second part that allowed outdoor music to continue being played until 1am. Understandably, it was residents who first objected vehemently to the 1am cut off time for outdoor music, followed by the Malta Developers Association and other organisations. e way Valletta has developed over the years has not allowed for the creation of zoning and entertainment establishments sit right below residential apartment blocks in narrow streets. is requires clear and balanced rules of cohabitation to ensure residents' wellbe- ing is safeguarded, while businesses are allowed to operate and patrons permitted to enjoy themselves. Finding the right balance is never easy but a concerted attempt has to be done by bringing all stakeholders around the table. It makes sense to allow establishments to open until 2am and this does not seem to be the bone of contention. But booming noise until 1am is obvious- ly a massive inconvenience to neighbours, most of who are elderly people. Valletta already plays host to numerous national events, which require music or sound being played after 11pm. Adding to this, the daily extension of playing hours for bars and restaurants would create problems of a permanent nature for the local community. ese concerns cannot be ignored be- cause they will backfire. e first question that needs to be asked is whether outdoor music in these estab- lishments is an absolute necessity after 11pm. Arguments in favour must be ev- idence-based. It is only then that a decision can be taken on how this could be best achieved with the least inconvenience. But even in taking this decision the au- thorities must adopt a holistic view that takes into consideration Valletta's unique selling proposition for the touristic and entertainment sector. However, beyond the issue of Valletta, the inconvenience caused by loud music to neighbours is something that must be addressed in a concerted way. In a review of the Maltese justice system carried out in 2014, a commission chaired by retired judge Giovanni Bonello had produced two volumes of proposals to improve efficiency. A minor proposal concerned complaints and charges related to loud music ema- nating from bars and entertainment es- tablishments that were an inconvenience to neighbours. e Bonello Commission had proposed the introduction of sound limiters as a condition attached to bar and club licences to cut down on the num- ber of complaints related to sound. is would free up the police from having to chase these minor complaints and pre- vent the law courts from being hogged with such cases. A simple solution like this would ensure sound levels on the outside are brought down to acceptable levels and any breach could be detected through the instru- ment. Malta is noisy. Noise is part and parcel of our Mediterranean culture but it should not define every street of the country, let alone the capital. The outdoor music saga 16.6.2022

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