Valletta council worried about co-cathedral plans

Alexiei Dingli

Aug 10th 2008, 08:42

Dear Astrid, thanks for your comments. Yes, we are also looking into the excavations of St George's square too. I think it will be a breath of fresh air to see one of the nicest parking in Europe reinstated in a decent square fit for our president + parliament and given back to the pedestrians. We will also monitor the situation in order to ensure that no damage is done to our city.

Astrid Vella

Aug 7th 2008, 14:18

Mr. Dingli,it's very encouraging to see the Council showing its concern, especially since MEPA has declared that even with precautions in place,there still remains an element of risk to the Cathedral's foundations.

Could you tell us if the Council is looking into the excavation of St. George's square to provide 40 underground parking spaces.This will clear the surface for reinstatement of a fountain there, but what is to become of all the original pipework which carried the water in from the aqueduct and redistributed it to the other fountains in lower Valletta?There is also said to be the base of Verdellin's column buried below ground

Is there a holistic traffic plan for Valletta? Is Valletta moving towards a car-free future like the other ancient citadels of Europe,as we were given the impression by the Park and Ride scheme, or is it having second thoughts? Do the 40 places cater for Parliamentarians,when the future of Parliament's location in the Palace is in question, besides which many of our parliamentarians have chauffeurs?

Can Valletta's heritage, residents and business community afford to have St. George's Square and St. John's Street and Square reduced to quarries for the next few years?

Joe Vella

Aug 7th 2008, 13:48

Facts in the public domain that some people prefer to disregard:

The Co-Cathedral Museum is far too small for its collection.

This collection should be properly exhibited
(most of it is exhibited in too small a space or not at all),
kept together in St.John's Museum,
and not dispersed in other buildings that have no connection with St.John's
as this collection was mostly commissioned specifically for St.John’s or
donated specifically to the Co-Cathedral by the Grand Masters.

St.John’s Foundation has therefore proposed
two alternative options, one underground, one overground,
for the Museum’s extension.

If the extension is made underground, the Foundation’s preferred option,
there will be no building whatsoever.

Neither option involves any building in the Co-Cathedral itself -
only in the annex on Merchants’ Street
and only if MEPA rejects
the Foundation’s preferred option.

In the Co-Cathedral proper, we walk over graves.
Even with an extension of its Museum in the annex,
we would not be walking over graves there.

Museums abroad develop;
eg Louvre’s pyramid, British Museum’s glazed-over Great Court.

A 'palazzo' FAA suggests is no alternative.
As ‘Din l-Art Helwa’ said, “the entire Co-Cathedral collection
should be kept together”.

There is already a shop in St.John's Museum.

Denis Catania

Aug 6th 2008, 19:11

@Anne Marie Kissaun: You make so much sense.
@Alexei Dingli: Suggest Ms Kissaun suggestion, Also speaking of history and restoration.
Fr Vella needs help restoring the art work of St. Dominic. Can the council help
him, if you haven't done so.

a.caruana

Aug 6th 2008, 18:59

in a news bulettin it was stated that the covering over of the court yard was to be made using transparent material. So, what is the cafeteria being built on?

Alexiei Dingli

Aug 6th 2008, 17:54

Dear All, the council is not hiding under the skirt of political correctness but we want to get access to ALL the information before taking any position. Yes there are two applications but the original plan of the co-cathedral was to dig under merchant street. The other one was only submitted as a second option (based upon the information we have). If one of them goes through, I can assure you that the council will keep on monitoring the situation and will ensure that no damage is done to our dear city or to our cultural heritage.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 6th 2008, 15:12

@ Mr Vella - There are TWO development applicatons: 1. extension of existing museum by means of digging underneath St John's Square - that was the concern of the Valletta local Council; 2. extension of existing museum by means of a three-storey structure built on the present Cathedral Courtyard touching Merchants' Street, ending up with a roof-top cafeteria, since there aren't enough such entertainment places in Valletta (sic).

DVella

Aug 6th 2008, 14:59

@Franco Farrugia:

What 'other' plan?? Isn't that what the Local Council is 'concerned' about?? Or is there yet another hare-brained proposal???

I think the Local Council should come out of hiding under the skirt of political correctness and openly criticise these stupid ideas and lodge a proper objection with MEPA not merely 'express its concerns' !

Franco Farrugia

Aug 6th 2008, 10:43

Unfortunately, the Valletta local council stops short of critcising the 'other' plan for St John's - that is, the building over the present cathedral courtyard!

Anne Marie Kissaun

Aug 6th 2008, 10:22

Many other sensible people are worried about this suggestion. We should all continue to put the idea under pressure. There are alternatives as were mentioned at the beginning of this proposal i.e. refurbish one of the few Palazzi in Valletta which are in a state of disrepair. This way you kill two birds with one stone. I think that would be a better decision and in this way remove any danger of irreparable damage that might occur to our most beautiful and renowned Cathedral. Therefore, HANDS OFF PLEASE and stop dreaming stupid ideas.