Rabat residents looking forward to dust-free square

A dusty, makeshift car park in front of the Roman Villa in Rabat will soon be paved over, giving residents surrounding the large square the liberty of opening their windows whenever they want to and breathing dust-free air for the first time in decades.

The site has been in a state of neglect since the 1960s because of a dispute between landowners and the fact it is an important archaeological site.

A Rural Affairs Ministry spokesman said the dispute has now been resolved but it would cost too much to dig up and explore the archaeological remains. The paving works, therefore, will start "shortly", although no specific date was given.

The site is believed to contain the foundations of centuries-old houses. The plan is to layer the area with gravel so as not to damage the remains or compromise any future archaeological excavations. This will be followed by a thin layer of concrete to stabilise the surface and another layer of asphalt on top. This will ensure no further water will seep into the ground, the spokesman said.

Shop owner Ray Azzopardi, whose premises overlook the plot, is very happy that finally the dusty terrain will be covered over: "It will give new life to the area. The only remaining problem is an old room that sits at the edge of the site."

That structure is abandoned and dilapidated; it was an eyesore and hid the view of the Domus Romana, he said.

The plans include narrowing the pavement at the far end of the area (in the foreground of the photo), but according to Mr Azzopardi this did not make much sense, especially since large groups of tourists make use of it.

Mr Azzopardi and the four shop owners who share the pavement are in discussions with the ministry about these problems but overall he is happy with the outcome.

Residents welcomed the project but hoped the government would keep the promise it made before the last general election and get on with the job.

Karmenu Caruana, who has lived opposite the plot for 20 years, said every time there was a spot of wind he could not open the windows or hang out his washing because there was too much dust flying around.

Another elderly resident, Antonia Frendo, who was born in her house and has lived there for 70 years, expressed her anger and anticipation: "Finally, something has been done, and there is an end to the dust at last... I remember when the plot was still a field."

One woman, Doris Gatt Scicluna, who was an avid campaigner over the years, brought out piles of letters and documents which the association she had formed part of had sent to politicians urging them to act. She was happy and hoped it would not take much longer for the paving to materialise.

The project is the result of collaboration between the Malta Transport Authority and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and is going to be upgraded to a standard acceptable for such an area of high touristic value.

Rabat mayor Sandro Craus expressed his dismay at not even being invited to the press conference that had launched the project before the election, saying the council had pushed hard and put a lot of work into it.

He said they had worked together with Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Mario De Marco and a number of studies had been carried out before the plans could be designed.