Updated: Opposition criticises demolition of naval oil depot

charles grech

Sep 3rd 2009, 16:51

@ Minister George Pullicino.

This building would definately a better deal if it were to be used as an animal hospital.
The one at Ta' Qali is more a BUNKER THAN AN ANIMAL HOSPITAL. Further more the state would be saving millions of EUROS The fort itself could also compliment to the Animal Hospital.

r ferriggi

Aug 3rd 2009, 12:43

to Mr Korsten:

FULL POINTS to your point of view.

may i add that i also think ( maybe this is extreme,,,,) but many (newer ) buildings in valletta should EVENTUALLY be demolished to create spaces, or to be-rebuilt according to valletta style,,,, ( CAN be innovative as well and not a copy of the old),,,,,

when u look from far,,, u see alot of buildings which ruin the view in a bad way. they hurt the eye.

Peter Korsten

Aug 3rd 2009, 09:40

@L Galea:
"So since the building is 100 years old, and according to you 55 years old, MEPA is breaking the LAW by allowing this building to be demolished."

Ah, no, you're making a classic logic fallacy. The law stipulates that any building newer than 50 years old cannot be considered cultural heritage (with a few exceptions). That does not mean that everything older than 50 years is cultural heritage.

For example, if I claim that all girls have long hair (leaving aside those few with short hair), that doesn't mean that everybody with long hair is a girl.

It's basic logic reasoning, but people often get it wrong.

Having said all that, the naval oil depot is not exactly pretty. When it comes to selling Malta's cultural heritage to tourists (who bring in much-needed cash), the bastions do a better job than the depot.

j n ebejer

Aug 1st 2009, 22:38

The importance of the bastions superceeds by far whatever, if any, the naval oil depot could have, and the result of such action by far exceed the historic value of the site as it is at present. So it is very wise of the restoration unit to make such a decision.

Hopefully all the structures of no or little value in this area, including the occupation of the whole of Hornworks in Vittoriosa are removed and the fortifications restored and opened to the public, interpreted and een as a strong asset for tourism and culture.

The Restoration unit should be supported encouraged and commended for it's good work.

Galea. L

Aug 1st 2009, 21:50

joseph cachia
With due respect, the Cultural Heritage Act, Chapter 445 of the Laws of Malta Article 3 states that:
"3. For the purpose of this Act, an object shall not be deemed to form part of the cultural heritage unless it has existed in Malta, including the territorial waters thereof, or in any other country, for FIFTY years, or unless it is an object cultural, artistic, historical, ethnographic, scientific or industrial value, even if contemporary, that is worth preserving."

So since the building is 100 years old, and according to you 55 years old, MEPA is breaking the LAW by allowing this building to be demolished.

R. Calleia

Aug 1st 2009, 21:38

These Bastions are Magnificent, apart from their historical value and demolishing the naval depot would show their original splendor once again. We do need people like Mr. Galdes, so here I wish to say thank you, but I fully disagree with him and a 100 year old building used as an OIL depot obstructing the Bastions which fended off the Turks, is not of that much importance as the grand look these Bastions will have once again.

Ludwig Flask

Aug 1st 2009, 19:05

The bastions would look better by removing the Naval Oil Depot, full stop!

The Naval Oil Depot and others similar which are deemed of an extraordinary architectural beauty or have a heritage value can be dismantled and rebuilt 'tale quale' in another place.

The government can allocate a piece of land set for this purpose, say sort of a museum area / city. This can be embellished by a crafts section, shops, restaurants, tourists' attractions - any opportunity to create the much needed jobs.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Aug 1st 2009, 18:42

That building should have gone down as part of our Independence celebration. The British colonialists didn’t
give a toss about our historical heritage. Why should we preserve a symbol of the environmental rape? The preservation of the bastions is sacrosanct. Sorry Roderick, this time I don’t agree with you.

v.pulis

Aug 1st 2009, 17:34

Fort St. Angelo is full of buildings dating from the time of the British but that doesn't mean that they have any historical value. They are abandoned and derelict and an eye sore. i have been clamoring for years for their removal to no avail. The sooner they are removed the better.

Victor Laiviera

Aug 1st 2009, 17:34

@ Mr Alex Spiteri.

The Knights were also "foreign rulers", just like the British. So whatever they built was also "colonial". Is that what you want to "demolish"?

When does history start - and stop?

Charles Stafrace

Aug 1st 2009, 17:26

Is this the same MEPA (or its predecessor the PA) that approved that horrible concrete appartments some distance away? No tears were shed at the time for obstructing the bastions. I hope the demolition of the oil depot which, as the experts below seem certain, is of no particular historic importance (and I am not in a position to argue on that point) would not open up the way for another similar blunder.

Oswald Spiteri

Aug 1st 2009, 17:24

And what about the steel structure that once was the Barrakka Lift, which was pulled down some years ago ? (And now we say we need to build a new one ! ! !)

Sandro Galea

Aug 1st 2009, 17:07

We now know that the Opposition representative on the MEPA Board has poor taste, has no appreciation for the uniqueness of the fortifications that are being uncovered, and has no consideration for the position taken by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. Leader Dr. Joseph Muscat, whose MEPA credentials are now in doubt, and who found no difficulty appointing a MEPA employee as his representative on the MEPA Board, should seriously rethink this appointment.

joseph cachia

Aug 1st 2009, 16:56

@M. Galdes

How the 55 years old building can be historic ? more and more it is obstructing the BASTIONS view.
The older OIL DEPOT built circa 90 years ago was demolished in 1953, and replaced with the present building.
So, what is historic, in fact should never been there.

Charles Micallef

Aug 1st 2009, 16:35

Are we not inundated with such or similar buildings?

I would rather have the space and see the bastions, however I appreciate that we do not all share the same views!

Alex Spiteri

Aug 1st 2009, 16:28

Mr Galdes warned that this decision could set a precedent and lead to other historic buildings built alongside the bastions around Grand Harbour being demolished...

SO BE IT!

we need to demolish most of colonial buildings...as they don't have any historical or cultural value!