Course in rubble wall building

The tradition of building rubble walls has been revived through a specific course organised by the Building Industry Consultative Council to teach the skills behind this dying trade.

Resources and Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech yesterday visited a number of workers following the course and who were being trained at Wied Ghollieqa.

Dr Zammit Dimech said the rubble walls were part of the island's heritage and every effort should be made to protect them.

The BICC, together with Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, had concentrated on the promotion of traditional crafts that were dying out, including the building of rubble walls.

Dr Zammit Dimech said the BICC was also hoping such programmes would be implemented on a regular basis.

He explained that the removal of oil drums which marred the beauty of the rubble walls had been part of the government's plans for a better environment.

Dr Zammit Dimech said the section responsible for parks and conservation of the countryside within the ministry presently had a programme to remove all the oil drums.

Over the past month, 814 drums were removed from rubble walls.