Titlu

To prohibit loud amplified music in public spaces and public areas where residents are near

Data

16-07-2026

Data li l-petizzjoni tagħlaq għall-firem

10-10-2026

Min ħoloq il-petizzjoni

ANNA (ANNA MARIA) BALDACCHINO

Ilment

Unfortunately we are in the situation where loud, amplified music is being played in public spaces and public areas. As we can see, amplified music is nowadays played for eg in outside catering establishments, in beach concessions, on the beach, in public areas eg ta qali, etc in the streets in Valletta, and several other areas where residents are in close proximity. This amplified music is being played outside the sound proof area it is supposed to be confined to, resulting in a situation where residents residing in the vicinity are hearing the music from their houses and due to this, the quality of life they are legally entitled to, is diminishing drastically.
Reality is that these entertainment centers etc have invaded our residential areas and are now hijacking our lives. We have come to a predicament where we cannot even live in peace and quiet in our own homes and in our own neighbour hoods.
This loud amplified music is invading our quality of life and causing several problems to us all. Sleep deprevation is one of the consequences of this amplified music.
Amplified music should be strictly limited to soundproofed areas and this music should not be allowed in the public where people demand to have their quality of life protected. We cannot continue having amplified music thrown at us wherever we go in public spaces, whether we like it or not.
We are entitled to a good quality of life.
We were promised a good quality of life.
We demand a good quality of life.

Għaldaqstant umilment nitlob/nitolbu lill-Kamra tad-Deputati sabiex

prohibit the use of loud amplified music on a regular basis in public spaces where sound proofing does not exist ie.
to prohibit for eg outside catering establishments from playing loud, amplified music on a regular basis,
to prohibit for eg, beach concessions from playing loud amplified music on a regular basis outside their soundproof area
to prohibit for eg, people to use boom boxes etc playing loud amplified music on beaches or in playgrounds etc
to prohibit for eg, loud amplified music on boats especially when these are not moored and therefore moving from point A to B
to prohibit for eg. loud amplified music in venues where the music is being played outside the soundproof area and this venue lies close to residences.
In short to prohibit loud amplified music where this can effect residents that reside in the vicinity of the place making use of this amplified music.
From the ombudsmans report:-
It is absolutely not fair that people face distress in their homes and legal uncertainty because no one authority can be approached convincingly and undoubtedly to ensure observance of standards, to act when excessive noise is the rule and to give realistic remedies. Public authorities are there to give clear answers and act quickly. Enforcement should be based on pro-active monitoring not on complaint-based intervention rather than proactive monitoring.

Rimarki tal-għeluq

Note the ombudsman report :-
The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) is part of the laws of Malta (Chapter 319) and is applied by the Courts of Justice in Malta. The Convention imposes on the State a positive obligation to put in place adequate legal frameworks that protect the human rights of persons, to ensure that those frameworks are effectively enforced, and to strike a fair balance between competing interests.
Human rights law safeguards the person from disproportionate and persistent interference to his legitimate way of life. As far as entertainment and other places are concerned, this means that if the State grants licences to establishments, tolerates amplified music without control, fails to curtail noise from becoming intense and persistent, fails to enforce licence conditions, and ignores or “looks the other way” when confronted by continuous complaints, then the matter does not remain any longer restricted within the ambit of ordinary law but raises human rights concerns. and may find itself in breach of its positive obligation to protect the rights of people under Art 8 of the Convention.
The European Court of Human Rights (“ECtHR”) treats severe, prolonged, and avoidable environmental noise, especially night time noise affecting the home, as a potential interference with, or failure to secure, Art 8 of the Convention, which in subarticle (1) states that “everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and correspondence”. The right to peaceful enjoyment is included within the notion of “home”.

Therefore I am asking for action to be taken to protect residents human rights