Majority opposed to opera house site for Parliament

Over 58 per cent of those who took part in a The Times online poll are against the government's proposal to build a new Parliament on the site of the old opera house in Valletta.

Over 1,300 people voted in the poll, which was posted on the website last Friday. Just under 42 per cent were in favour of the proposal.

Most of those against also argued that old building materials and designs should be used in any reconstruction, so that the building "will blend with other structures".

"A new opera house should be built instead and definitely not something looking modern but it should go with the Valletta architecture and not be something bombastic," one of the comments read.

Those who wanted to see a replica of the old opera house seemed oblivious to the fact that its design was out of synch with Valletta's architecture of the time.

No one has as yet commented that the opera house has twice been the subject of a design competition, in 1954 and in 1992, and that an outline development permit exists for the site.

Among those who argued against were those who questioned the cost: if Malta had a financial problem, why should we embark on another Lm18 million development?

Some were sarcastic: "It seems that for members of parliament money is no problem. Why build a bigger place when parliament is almost always empty except when the sitting is being shown on TV?", one person wrote.

"The government needs to get its priorities right. First Malta House in Brussels and now a new Parliament. Do we not realise that we cannot afford these luxuries? It is very easy to spend other people's money and then create other taxes to make good for it all," one said.

Another argued that "investing in something that we already have is a waste of government funds. It is better if we put our heads together and build something extraordinary that people from all over the world will want to come and see".

Some suggested other uses, such as bringing back the public library from Belt is-Sebh or twinning with another museum or arts facility abroad in order to draw tourists to the opera house and generate revenue. More than one person suggested there should be cafés and florists, as well as a fish market.

A number of people said the opera house served as an excellent reminder of the devastation of war and this should live on in some form.

"Stones from the remaining structure ought to be used in the new construction in a way that will give an idea of the building's former glory and subsequent destruction. Maybe what is left could be preserved and structurally strengthened and the new building built as though it were growing out of the old one," one suggested.

A few readers questioned the choice of architect, asking whether the building should be "yet another Richard England design".

One reader went as far as to suggest that the site should contain an opera house and theatre and that the Manoel Theatre be made available for the new parliament.

The EU was also hauled into the debate. Some suggested that the opera house should be rebuilt using EU money, and one added that the EU should pay "for what the Northern European 'super powers' did to Malta all those years ago".

Among those in favour, some came to the defence of the Nationalist government, saying that it seemed whatever the PN proposed was being opposed.

"Why is it we have to oppose everything that is being suggested, especially by the PN? The site is ideal and it will ease some of the congestion in Valletta," one argued.

Another voter, although in favour, was less convinced: "Anything is better than the disgusting eyesore that has graced the entrance to Valletta for the last 60-odd years. If you have to give it to the politicians, so be it. A culture centre would be preferable though."