The mayor of Valletta has suggested changes to a controversial law extending the hours that music can be played to 1am, after residents protested outside the council offices.
Alfred Zammit spoke out for the first time since the legal notice was published last week.
Residents and owners of boutique hotels fear that by extending the hours that ‘moderate’ music could be played from 11pm to 1am, the UNESCO world heritage site would be turned into a party district like Paceville.
On Monday the Labour mayor said the council would ask for the legal notice to be amended so that the 1am limit would only apply during the weekend and that the word “moderate” be clarified.
He suggested it could be defined as “background music that can only be heard by patrons, who are seated at a table”.
“What is moderate for you is not moderate for me,” he told Times of Malta.
He said the council will continue refusing permits for DJs to play in Valletta and appealed for bars to abide by the law, saying some refused to do so this weekend.
“Some obeyed and followed the law this weekend and others couldn’t be bothered. Those who break the law will find the local council backing the residents’ rights,” he said.
