Villa owner files judicial protest over Maypole bakery noise

A Birkirkara villa owner has filed a judicial protest against a bakery located behind his home, citing constant loud noises from machinery powering its chillers and freezers.

Joseph Grech claimed that the equipment, installed by the Maypole outlet on Psaila Street, Birkirkara, was placed in the bakery’s backyard – against the dividing wall shared with his villa.

This, he argued, breached the recommendations of an engineer, who had advised in a report submitted to the Planning Authority that the machinery be installed at the front of the bakery instead.

According to Grech, the noise is especially unbearable in summer, as the units operate continuously, day and night.

The judicial protest was filed in the First Hall of the Civil Court against Jonathan Caruana, the owner of the Birkirkara Maypole outlet, Maypole director Mario Debono and property owner George Portelli.

Grech explained that his family has lived for several years in a villa on Dom Mauro Inguanez Street, Birkirkara, in what was a quiet residential neighbourhood with minimal commercial activity.

Around 10 years ago, the Maypole franchise opened an outlet behind his property. To preserve food, the owners installed chillers and freezers and applied for a planning permit.

As part of the application, an engineer had recommended that the machinery be installed at the front of the bakery, on Psaila Street, to minimise disturbance to neighbours.

However, the machinery was instead placed at the back, directly facing the villa’s bedroom area. The family tried to find a solution for years, Grech said.

The owners refused to build a higher dividing wall, and the sound insulation they eventually installed proved completely ineffective.

In light of this, Grech filed the protest in which he called on Maypole to rectify the situation or face further legal action.

The judicial protest was signed by lawyer Mark Said.