Valletta council backs City Gate project

The Valletta council has welcomed the government's decision to proceed with its plans to rebuild City Gate and the former opera theatre, which would give the capital the dignity it deserved.

"Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has delighted us all with the news we've been waiting for for the past five decades. This new centre will add further attractions and help pump life back into the city," it said.

The council said that based on architect Renzo Piano's track record, the entrance to the city would convince visitors that Valletta was not only a World Heritage Site, but also a modern European capital.

The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin also issued a statement and said the project had become an economical, social and environmental need for the country to progress.

The UĦM said the government should establish a deadline and ensure the public's money was well spent without any waste and that the country got its value back.

"The UĦM reiterates that transparency and control in public finances need to continue being central in their administration. The public needs to be assured that this project will be managed well and efficiently," it said.