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.
4 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
edward bartolo
Dec 13th 2008, 00:13
I tend to agree with those who argue that Valletta has its characteristics which should be respected. In other words, rebuilding the city gate and the opera house, should not be in dissonance with the rest. I think, it is a good idea to keep with the original, especially where the opera house is concerned. Moreover, the use of concrete should be minimized.
James De Giorgio
Dec 12th 2008, 18:31
@ Vincent Galea. You don't write in capitals on the internet. It means you're screaming your head off in net language.
Secondly, what the article was stating was that apart from a fabulous city which is as old as half a millenium, we will also have a better entrance and a definitely better building than the unsightly ruins that blemish the city further as soon as you enter it under that ghastly gate.
vincent a galea
Dec 12th 2008, 15:13
'VALLETTA IS A MODERN EUROPEAN CAPITAL' !!!!!!!
EXCUSE ME, BUT VALLETTA IS A NEARLY 500 YEAR OLD GEM WITH BEAUTIFUL AND MASTERFUL ARCHITECTURE WHICH SHOULD BE PRESERVED FOR ITS ANTIQUITY AND ALL SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS SHOULD BE IN CONFORMITY WITH THE REST OF IT. AND NO RENZO PIANO OR OTHERS ARE GOING TO CONVINCE ANY SANE PERSON WITHOUT HIDDEN AGENDAS OTHERWISE!! AND THIS DOES NOT MEAN IT CANNOT BE A UNIQUE AND OUTSTANDING EUROPEAN CAPITAL!!
Ian Waugh
Dec 12th 2008, 12:56
Good news that the Valletta Council "welcomed the government's decision to proceed with its plans to rebuild City Gate and the former opera theatre".
I am sure many agree that this work is long overdue and certainly Renzo Piano has a superb track record.
What is Valletta Council's official view of the Prime Minister's pledge to place the Parliamentary building on the Opera House bomb site instead of building a place of theatre, the arts and Maltese culture?