Court upholds temporary injunction against removal of Spinola big-screen

Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon has upheld a request by Massive Promotions to allow their big-screen projecting the Euro 2012 championship games, to stay in its current site at the Spinola creek seafront, pending his final judgement tomorrow.

The court upheld a request by Massive Promotions that stopped the authorities from removing the big screen in Spinola Bay, which is projecting the Euro 2012 games.

Hotel operators, restaurateurs, residents and fishermen were up in arms against the decision by the St Julian's local council to authorise the projection of the game on the big screen.

According to operators in the area, usually big-screens are set up at the Tigullio car park, as is the norm during major international sporting events. The operators have complained that the restaurant area had now been turned into "an extension of Paceville".

In a reaction to the insistent calls for the removal of the big screen as a petition was being circulated, Massive Promotions this morning filed a request for a warrant of prohibitory injunction.

The request was also filed after the Director of the Lands Department insisted that his department hadn't issued any permits for the big screen.

But according to one of the organisers Philippe Gatt, Massive Promotions have enough evidence to prove that they didn't need the permit from the Lands Department.

"We are contesting the fact that the department is now insisting that we needed their permit, when in fact we didn't need since this is a temporary event," Gatt told MaltaToday.

He added that this was also backed by past events in which the permits by the Land Department were not needed.

Gatt also contested claims by restaurateurs that the big screen was driving business away: "Restaurants and shops have been completely full. Moreover, we switch off our sound around 10 minutes after the game ends at around 10:30pm. We made sure not to block entrances to the restaurants, where we left five entrances open."

St Julian's mayor Peter Bonello also had told Maltatoday that Massive Promotions had all their permits in order and legally issued by the police.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association expressed concern that permission was granted by the council. "MHRA regrets that this is attracting hundreds of people to the area who are creating loud noise into the evening and having an impact on the restaurants and hotel in the area. MHRA are against the organisation of such activities at Xatt is-Sajjieda and are urging the Authorities concerned to remove this nuisance from the area immediately."

Judge Zammit McKeon is expected to deliver the final judgement tomorrow