Sharon Hurdle, Mellieħa
'Moon rock' at Rabat
The Trackless Train now running between Rabat/Mdina/Mtarfa is pleasant and makes everyone smile, however, the same cannot be said for the land directly in front of Howard Gardens, next to the Roman Villa, commonly known as Kola's Field. Locals and tourists use it as a car park. There is little parking in the surrounding area and anyone visiting on a Saturday and Sunday will appreciate, that when there is nothing else left you end up parking there.
This car park (for which I have been approached by car park attendants to actually pay them to park in; they should pay us!) is simply a piece of land with no surface to speak of except "moon rock", glass and rubbish. I would like to know what tourists think about this "eyesore" when visiting one of the most wonderful sites on the island that is Mdina.
Asking people to park there is dangerous: you can easily fall or sprain an ankle on the uneven ground.
It is dangerous to your car: tyres are robust but this ground is a true challenge! It causes a nuisance to local residents living adjacent to it: the dust and mess it throws up enters homes and causes great inconvenience.
How much would it cost to resurface it properly for the first time in its history? It would improve the local environment and present a pleasant picture for all.
My mother grew up in a house adjacent to this "field". She remembers when it was a field with grass, she used to take the goat out to it, to feed. Please can someone listen and finally improve this area to match up to its glorious surroundings?
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Eric Camilleri
Aug 30th 2008, 17:51
Out of my ignorance I am not aware that this field is actually an archeological site and its use as a "car park" sure never helped me realize that. If that is so then tarmac might be an overkill but on the otherhand is there no damage being caused by the hundreds of cars using it daily ? We are really good at burying our heads in the sand !
Franco Farrugia
Aug 30th 2008, 17:46
It is a shame that we have so many archaeology graduates, yet, they are always told there is no work for them IN MALTA! Then, we get people from abroad to the the job for us, as if we don't have the necessary knowhow.
Well, the people from abroad come free of charge, while we have to pay our own people, naturally.
But we have so many archaeological sights around Malta and Gozo and we don't have time to uncover and study them - we always make do with volunteers!
christopher Agius Ferrante
Aug 30th 2008, 17:04
In fact i remember when the trenches were still open (must have been about 15 years ago), surrounded by a broken fence. I imagine after funds ran out, or it was deemed unimportant, the trenches where filled in. If it is of such great importance, perhaps it should be re excavated and opened up as a site of interest.
If not, then why should it not be made suitable as a car park.
V Zammit
Aug 30th 2008, 12:48
Do not forget that this so-called "field" is actually an archaeological site of great importance, and therefore it is not that easy to surface it with tarmac.
Alfred Grech
Aug 30th 2008, 12:14
I've written about it on The Times on Dec 9, 2006 and so did others but nothing has happened. Apparently that is the responsibility of the central govrnment.
Howard Garden is now so beautiful but its parking lot is in a horrible state.
Even some of the roads the train travels through could use some resurfacing.
Eric Camilleri
Aug 30th 2008, 09:36
Ms Hurdle is completely right about this so called "parking area". I try to avoid it as best I can however most of the time one has no option but to "risk" it in every sense and manner with obvious damage to tyres, suspension and the car itself, worst still to walk out and in of the parking. Its a shame, considering the location.