Heritage sites' restoration

Reference is made to the article by Eddie Aquilina - "Investing in our heritage" (September 16). Mr Aquilina made reference to the government's allocation of Zabbar Gate (proper name Notre Dame Gate) to Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna for conservation and use.

Although in no part critical, he seems to lament the fact that this significant historic property was passed to FWA and not the Old Edwardians Association. I do not wish to enter into any controversy on the matter.

I have great respect for St Edward's College and its administrators, especially its former head, William Dimech, who supported the efforts of our organisation in several ways when he was in office. I also have many personal friends who were educated at St Edward's.

But I do think it would be in everyone's interest to explain what FWA has been up to at this gate. Notre Dame Gate was received from the government for conservation and management in 1999 after a long wait of some seven years. This was only possible after the whole building was cleared from a host of tenants, some of whom had occupied the building illegally, while others had not used it for years. Some of these also had the cheek to ask for compensation! Alternative allocation had also to be found for an aqua lungs filling shop which was resited to an industrial area.

Since a determined approach was taken to this problem the property was vacated in good time. Full credit for this must goes to Joe Mizzi, MP, who was supportive of our initiative from day one. Credit is also due to Minister Tonio Borg for allocating the gate to FWA. Since this took place, our volunteers have cleared no less than 60 tons of accumulated rubbish from it. We have carried out a full-scale survey of the building to document the state in which it was received and also to guide conservation experts in drawing a long-term conservation plan for it.

A huge amount of money was spent on waterproofing its much decayed roofs. This was done with the collective help of the Cottonera Rehabilitation Project and Thomsons' Holidays (Malta). New traditional stone paving was installed in all upper parts of the building at great cost.

Some 50 timber apertures and new water and electricity services were installed and the drainage system was cleared and restored. New sanitary facilities were also put in. An arrangement was entered with the Ministry for Youth and the Arts to landscape the grounds around it. A new security system was introduced which has since stopped intruders from entering the building.

All in all some Lm80,000 have already been spent on this property. A photographic survey of the bronze bust of G.M. Nicholas Cotoner was also carried out with the help of Keith Buhagiar of the UOM.

Ways are being explored for the necessary finances to be raised in conserving this important element of political art in bronze. Talks are currently in hand for the opening up of the original ditch that once flanked the gate and the restoration of the original draw bridge. FWA will be moving its offices to the upper part of the gate towards the end of the year and the left wing is to be turned into a visitors' centre dedicated to Cottonera and its history.

FWA has entered this gate as a case study in the European Union's Delta project which is aimed at finding better ways of improving public access to their cultural sites. Funds allocated from this project will be used to carry out needed studies for the establishment of a continuous heritage walk along the historic lines of Cottonera. Notre Dame Gate will be figuring prominently in this walk, since it is to act as the main access onto the walls, apart from serving as its main interpretation centre.

One of the lower chambers under the gate is already being used as a salvage store for rescued architectural items from condemned sites and buildings by FWA. The right side chamber at ground level has been temporarily allocated to the Historical Re-enactment Group of Malta (HRGM) for use as their quarters since they have no place where to meet. Talks are also underway with them to hold regular interpretative activities tied with its original use.

In his article, Mr Aquilina doubts whether FWA has enough money for this project and in that he is right. The funding of this project is being done in stages depending on the benevolence of individuals and private companies. We are after all just a voluntary non-governmental organisation made up of public-spirited individuals who dedicate their energy and free time at trying to save elements of the nation's heritage which are very often ignored by others, not least the authorities.

Since its inception in 1987, FWA has moved ahead and notwithstanding all the opposition and obstacles that it met, particularly from like minded organisations and from people who should know better, we are now responsible for no fewer than 24 heritage sites or projects. Also against all odds, we have undertaken the restoration of Fort Rinella in Kalkara exactly 12 years ago and we have shown that even the most remote of our heritage sites, if dealt with properly, can be a success story - today an average of 35,000 visitors make it to this fort annually and their number is still growing.

In the same way I am positive about the future of Notre Dame Gate. We are, of course, in need of funding and support. I do appeal from here for members of the public to help us complete this worthy project, whether OEs or not. I wish to extend an invitation to Mr Aquilina and his fellows at the OEA to come and visit the gate and verify whatever I have stated.

Moreover, I also wish to invite the OEA to help us complete the good work already started at this gate.