FWA complains of insufficient onsite supervision

The recent accident at Mdina - where two large ancient stones were damaged during works - could have been avoided had sufficient onsite supervision been provided by heritage-oriented staff, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna said yesterday.

Bystanders at the time when the stones were being shifted reported that these were unceremoniously carted away using a mechanical shovel without the use of any adequate soft packing around them for protection, which was also indicated by fresh and deep cut scratches on these stones, it said.

"Accidents of this sort occur daily all over the island without much being said about them. One such example is the way that old hard stone steps and pavements normally found in the historic centres of our old towns and villages are regularly butchered by trenching or services contractors for want of adequate supervision," the heritage organisation said in a statement.

"It is true that specific conditions are laid in their terms of contract not to cause undue harm to any elements of cultural interest encountered. But these conditions are seldom enforced.

"A glaring example is the massacre caused by one particular contractor in Treasury Street, Valletta when a new electrical service was being laid for the National Library. That stretch of street was impeccably covered in finely dressed upper coralline blocks. Within hours, the large format slabs were chased through using a power tool presumably to make way for the new cable. In doing this, the entire slabbed surface which had withstood the ravages of time and conflict was ruined for ever.

"Attempts were later made to re-lay the slabs and to patch up the damage, but the end result served only to add insult to injury. It is not known if the contractor in question was ever charged for the damage caused. What is clear, though, is that what may have been the best traditionally paved part in the capital is now completely destroyed."

FWA now offers monitoring services to the civil engineering industry and local authorities, which it described as having been instrumental in saving various artefacts and areas.

"Through our involvement in projects like that of Tigné and Manoel Island, we were able to convince the developer there to adopt a salvage policy to cover standard military architectural elements for eventual use. We were also responsible for saving Garden Battery, that stands between Cambridge and Tigné batteries, from being inadvertently ruined and excavated. The same goes to a myriad of underground counter mines, communication passages and wartime shelters.

"All this was possible because of two main factors: the constant readiness of the respective developer to discuss and adjust to any issues of heritage importance within the remit of his project; and the dedication and regular availability of our monitors on site.

"Such systems have been for decades a must in many European countries."