Turning Art Deco Rialto Theatre Into Multipurpose Venue Will Cause Havoc For Residents
An application to restore the Art Deco cinema in Cospicua, the Labour-owned Rialto Threatre into a “multipurpose venue” has faced criticism from activists and residents.
Activists and residents have criticized the plans to turn the Labour-owned, Art Deco Rialto theatre into a multipurpose entertainment venue, complete with an interlinked boutique hotel, and additional floor.
Rialto Theatre has been leased from Labour to construction company GP Holdings, who submitted plans to restore the iconic seafront building with a new cinema, theatre, restaurant, link with a boutique hotel, and a new floor, which many fear will be used for loud music.
The planning application, PA/03203/23 has seen a slew of objections in the last five weeks, with many fearing it will lead to loud music disturbing the once peaceful area.
“Approval of this permit will disturb the residents severely, owing to the celebrations to be held on the roof-top,” NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar warned, noting recent noise complaints due to regular wedding receptions from Senglea Hotel, Cugó Gran Macina Grand Harbour.
FAA also said the entertainment venue will add pressure on parking, and noise levels and alter the landscape with the additional floor.
Moviment Graffitti also urged people to object to the project, saying that while it deserves to be restored to its former glory, this would change the day-to-day lives of residents, transforming the area into a “noisy commercial zone”.
Rialto Theatre sits prominently on the waterfront of Bormla and was a flagship cinema when it opened its doors in 1956.
Up to 1,000 cinemagoers fit into the art deco cinema. It closed in 1988 and was eventually acquired by the Labour Party. Since then, it’s sporadically been used as a party venue but is in need of restoration.
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