Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) welcomes the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism’s recent initiative to apply for financial assistance under the European Regional Development Fund, with the intention of rehabilitating Fort St Angelo in Vittoriosa. Equally positive are Dr Jason Azzopardi’s parallel measures taken to remove abusive structures below the Valletta bastions in an illegally closed-off section of the ditch, prior to restoration of the fortifications close to the Yellow Garage and at the bastions at San Gwann t-Ghuxa, Cospicua..
FAA has long been concerned about the lack of funding and the lack of enforcement with regard to Malta’s rich architectural heritage, inaction which has led to a serious deterioration of monuments such as Saint Angelo and Fort St Elmo, Fort Campbell and many other historic sites. FAA renews its call for a National Restoration Strategy which would allow heritage experts to draw up a plan of action identifying on the most urgent works and then moving on to other heritage sites in dire need of restoration or a facelift in an organised and coordinated manner. FAA stresses that before going for grand new projects – however positive and beneficial they may be – it is imperative to first safeguard our iconic monuments like St Angelo which are still very impressive and form part of our collective national heritage and identity.
It is to be emphasised that both heritage and environment are key indicators of Malta’s quality of life and are not only valued by the Maltese but also serve to attract much-needed tourists and foreign investors to Malta. Furthermore the benefits of restoring major monuments go far beyond the bastion walls to the regeneration of their outlying areas like Cottonera and lower Valletta.
It is hoped that such initiatives will be further developed and sustained by the strengthening of established bodies like MEPA’s Heritage Unit and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage whose depleted staff levels inevitably lead to further restoration delays, deterioration and destruction of our heritage. FAA calls on the authorities to promote programmes for the retraining of construction personnel to meet the demand for skilled stone restorers required by present and future restoration projects. Such programmes would create new employment opportunities for the recession-hit construction industry and would ensure that the work to be carried out on all these different projects is up to high restoration standards.
On an urban village level, FAA also welcomes the announcement by Dr Chris Said that fines collected from Local Tribunals will be recycled into the villages concerned and allocated for the building of public libraries, tree planting and the restoration of small historic monuments and niches, found in the locality. Together with the other €2 million expected to be raised through EU funding for the restoration of town squares having a historic value, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar considers this a good start to the New Year for Malta’s architectural heritage.
