Vittoriosa clock tower to be rebuilt

The Cottonera Rehabilitation Committee has decided to build a replica of the 16th century clock tower in Victory Square, Vittoriosa, committee coordinator Ray Bondin said yesterday.

The historic tower was demolished by enemy action in World War II.

The Vittoriosa local council - which is faced with the dilemma of having a divided population over whether the clock tower should be built or not - has not yet taken a stand.

Mayor John Boxall said that although in principle the council was in favour of the replica, due consideration would be given to people's views.

In the meantime, the excavated site in the middle of the square, where the foundations of the tower were uncovered during a dig earlier this year, will be covered up again.

The Cottonera Rehabilitation Committee of the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry said it saw the tower as a symbol of the heritage of Vittoriosa and the whole of Cottonera and was, therefore, insisting it should be rebuilt.

The tower, the committee added, would also serve as a symbol of the regeneration that was occurring in Vittoriosa.

It said it was planning to redesign the whole square, which would include some structural improvements and a new system for traffic and parking.

Most of the clock's mechanism is stored at the local council premises and one of the clock's hands is exhibited at the Vittoriosa Museum.