Saviour Balzan (31.08.08) cannot understand why Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) is ‘making a fuss of the St. John’s Co-Cathedral projects and not of the Hagar Qim Visitors’ Centre. The answer is very simple; the Hagar Qim project was applied for in 2002 and granted in 2005, both dates well before we were set up.
Like most NGOs, FAA has very limited resources and has to choose its campaigns very carefully. Once a permit has been granted there is virtually nothing we can do when we are not official objectors. Much as Saviour would love to pin everything on us, environment groups who were in existence at the time can give him more information on this case than we can.
Saviour says that “the threat posed by the extension is nothing compared to what is happening at Hagar Qim”. While we agree with him that the Visitors’ Centre at Hagar Qim is highly objectionable, we feel that the St. John’s Co-Cathedral case is more damaging because unlike the visibility issues of Hagar Qim, the damage that could be caused by the St. John’s excavations are potentially enormous and irreversible. MEPA has stated that in spite of all precautions, there remains a risk to the stability of St. John’s Cathedral. As if to prove this, we have seen the recent case of the widespread damage caused to the Monti di Pieta building by the excavation of space beneath it. The Foundation itself objected vehemently to the excavation of a tiny basement below St. Lucia Street, and yet they apply to excavate a quarry in St. John’s Street, in spite of being aware of the damage to the frescoes in the crypt which resulted from various minor works on Santa Lucia Street.
The potential damage is not limited to the Cathedral. The passages below St. John’s Street are unique 16th century engineering gems, beneath which pass the city’s water supply and sewers. They served as access shelters during WWII and still function to this day. Since their position cannot be calculated with absolute precision and their state of preservation is poor in places, damage from the excavations cannot be ruled out and would not only impact the city’s present-day drainage services but also the passages’ potential as a tourist attraction.
These projects are potentially very damaging not only to our heritage but also to our communal values; the burial ground of persons who sacrificed their lives for Christendom in Malta and Europe is, like other cemeteries, a sacred place deserving respect. Do we really want ticketing booths and a shop selling postcards and souvenirs in the graveyard of the Knights? We are amazed that Church representatives on the Foundation’s Council can overlook such religious issues and accept this travesty. Furthermore the glass canopy over the graveyard will negatively affect the graveyard’s micro-climate, trapping heat and humidity within the structure, which will affect the Co-Cathedral’s stonework. Additionally, the visual effect of the proposed undulating glass canopy complete with spotlights is more suited to a disco.
Unlike Hagar Qim, the St John’s projects violate the law: “Grade 1 Buildings of outstanding architectural or historical interest shall be preserved in their entirety. Demolition or alterations will not be allowed.” We cannot understand how an eminent body like the Foundation can advocate the breaking of Malta’s laws.
Nor can one overlook the implications for Valletta: excavating a quarry more than three storeys deep in the heart of Valletta will generate noise, dust and vibrations as well as the constant flow of heavy vehicles through the newly-repaved streets for years. This would make the project unsustainable in terms of pollution, air quality and the dumping of huge volumes of stone waste, not to mention the drastic upheaval to the quality of life of Valletta’s residents, tourists and shops.
We maintain that we cannot accept that a sizeable portion of our EU budget be spent on a project which may possibly damage Malta’s most precious national monument, when other feasible and simple alternatives exist as not only suggested by FAA, but also by other heritage bodies. A project of more reasonable dimensions would also leave funds available for more pressing projects like the restoration of crumbling Fort St. Elmo.
Astrid Vella
Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Sliema
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