THE STOA entertainment complex in Nicosia’s old town is still awaiting permission to turn on its loudspeakers, nearly three months after its owner was jailed for violating a court order banning their use.
Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou, who welcomed the complex’s completion in September 2009, confirmed yesterday that the permits were still awaiting approval by the Nicosia District Office, which is separate from the municipality.
“They have submitted some studies and proposals and at the same time applied for a license to use music and loudspeakers.” Mavrou said.
“This comes from the district office, not us, but we have been invited to comment. Some measures still need to be taken and we are in contact with their architect and sound specialist.”
The venue does have an entertainment licence, obtained from the Cyprus Tourism Organisation yet without a licence to play music, events like the Minus One rock gig just two weeks ago could be in violation of the court order.
STOA manager Michalakis Skoufarides said yesterday that they had solved all of their problems – by installing glass soundproof walls – and that they had all the necessary permits.
“We are not interested in hosting club nights anymore,” he said yesterday: “We started with all that but now we do catering for dinners, conferences and events.”
The venue’s legal problems began after one indignant neighbour objected to their excessively loud club nights. He took them to court, which issued an order forbidding it from operating until it secured the appropriate permits.
When the STOA managers decided to continue regardless of the order, the court deemed it a business decision, fined STOA’s development company €1,500 and jailed Skoufarides for 30 days on July 28.
The complaining neighbour said this week that he has not been troubled by STOA since the court’s sentencing, and while the police can close down any event at STOA, the municipality will not take action against them unless three members of the public complain.
‘Stoa Lefkosias’ opened its doors to the public in the summer of 2009. Located by the old municipality it is a 2,500 square metre complex that includes a restaurant, bar, café, nightclub and a number of conference rooms and receptions halls for all types and any size event.
