Spinola restaurateurs in row over big screen football

Hotel operators, restaurateurs, residents and fishermen are up in arms against a decision by the St Julian's local council to authorise a privately-operated big screen projecting the Euro 2012 championship games on the Spinola creek seafront.

Operators in the area have complained that the decision to grant a permit for a big screen along Spinola's picturesque bay - instead of within the Tigullio car park, as is the norm during major international sporting events - has turned the area known to host top restaurants, into an extension of Paceville, attracting "lager louts" instead of upmarket diners which the establishments cater for.

According to restaurateur Peter Darmanin - who is also a signatory to a petition which has also garnered the support of all other operators in the area - "the permit granted for the whole month of June, has blocked access to the St Julian's promenade, and consequently our restaurants are blocked, while the noise level is too high, driving customers away".

Darmanin estimates that so far, business at his and other establishments in the area has gone down by a whopping 50%.

He described the decision for moving the big screen from Tigullio car park to the Spinola promenade as "madness", which has not only upset the location's unique tranquillity, but also pushed away discerning customers from the area.

Fishermen have also signed a petition calling for the immediate relocation of the big screen, as barricades, kiosks and other equipment has hindered access to their own boats, while also denying them the space to lay out their nets along the promenade as they have done for years.

St Julian's mayor Peter Bonello expressed surprise at the objections raised by the restaurateurs, saying that the operators behind the big screen have had all their permits in order and legally issued by the police.

"The council felt however that this year it was better to have the big screen along the Spinola promenade, saving some 120 car park spaces within the Tigullio area, for the benefit of residents and restaurant patrons," an irate mayor told MaltaToday.

Bonello contradicted the claim that the big screen was driving business away from restaurants.

"When I went to check, I saw all restaurants full and I honestly cannot understand why operators are making such a fuss, when in fact I have made sure to keep them provided with 120 car park spaces," he said.

The St Julian's mayor added that restaurateurs were not being truthful about the loss of patrons.

"I have been to the area every evening, and as far as I know the restaurants were full," he said.

Bonello also said that the big screen organisers have ensured to have all necessary security, safety and health issues professionally in place.