Mr Anthony Farrugia (The Sunday Times, September 3) came out against the rebuilding of the Vittoriosa clock tower. His main argument is that this would be a copy of the original and would have no historical value.

In reality the whole object of rebuilding the clock tower is not that of having the clock tower as much as the continuation of a heritage and symbol that belonged to medieval Birgu and indeed the Cottonera. It is the institution and the culture that surrounds the clock tower that will be brought back to life.

Indeed there are innumerable buildings and monuments which have been replaced and rebuilt throughout the ages. St Lawrence Collegiate Church at Vittoriosa knows its origin as a parish church in the 11th century but today's edifice must be the third or fourth edition down the centuries.

The Annunciation Church at Vittoriosa was hit during the war but no-one argued that its destruction would have "to remain a sad episode in the history of Malta" as indeed it was. Another example from the vicinity of Siggiewi, where Mr A. Farrugia lives, is Laferla Cross. It is still called Laferla Cross even though the actual Laferla Cross is no more.

Finally I mention another magnificent tower which is a mere replica of the original: the campanile on Piazza San Marco in Venice. It collapsed some 100 years and there was no one who suggested that it would have no historical value or that it was synthetic! It stands out as the hallmark of old Venetian Republic and the major attraction of the Lagoon City.

Mr Farrugia knows full well that the Vittoriosa clock tower was split in two and was not completely destroyed during the war. It was a grave act of insensitivity when instead of being restored it was pulled down and its debris carted away. It is a pity that its rebuilding has been delayed for so many years.

We should be glad that it is now finally on the drawing board. It will make a perfect fit in Vittoriosa Square with the existing Victory Monument and the St Lawrence monument as its axes.