Kurt Sansone
Fort St Angelo repairs still at planning stage
Fort St Angelo is under siege from utter neglect. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.
A planning application for repair works on Fort St Angelo's deteriorating stonework was only submitted at the beginning of this month after Heritage Malta blocked access to the fort for safety reasons in July.
Architects have installed small sheets of glass across the dangerous cracks that have appeared in the stonework, advising anybody inside the fort to evacuate if the glass breaks.
A spokesman for Heritage Malta said the agency drew up a comprehensive status report, which listed the requirements to "render the area safe and accessible to the public".
"A development application to repair the access ramp and the damaged sally port, restore the main gate and reconstruct the vaulted entrance was submitted to Mepa earlier this month together with a restoration method statement," he added.
However, the submission of the application was no cause for amusement for one heritage expert, who lamented the state of neglect the fortification was left in.
The head of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, Mario Farrugia described the interventions on Malta's fortifications as "cosmetic". "It makes no sense to allow the fortifications to deteriorate and then carry out repair works afterwards. It is a disgrace for the country to have Fort St Angelo, the oldest fort pre-dating the Knights, in such a state," he said.
While other countries were discussing the impact of climate change on fortifications, he said, Maltese heritage authorities were only performing patchwork.
The biggest problem lies with the fort's main entrance. The walls alongside the covered ramp leading to the bottom part of the fort have developed serious fissures, possibly caused by the rusting beams put there by the British after the arched entrance was bombed during World War II.
Heritage Malta became responsible for Fort St Angelo in August 2007.
A security guard was detailed on a 24-hour basis, the spokesman said, so as to stop the dumping of waste material and prevent vandalism. "Vehicular access has been limited to the personal car of the resident Knight of the Order of St John in order to minimise the risk of further destabilisation," he added.
Vittoriosa mayor John Boxall had lamented the fort's closure, insisting that a long-term solution had to be found. "I expect the worst to happen in the winter months when the rains set in," Mr Boxall said.
Part of a bastion wall in Floriana collapsed last week, possibly because of the heavy downpour that could have expanded the earthenware behind the stone skin, causing pressure on the outer wall.
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11 Comments
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Vince DeBono
Sep 30th 2009, 22:28
Restore it now and it will cost a few millions.
Relax, study and restore it later, and it will cost many, many, many more millions. Then what Bernice said below becomes relevant.
Marius Cremona
Sep 30th 2009, 20:30
And there we are pumping millions in City Gate Project!!! Can we spare 10% to this project (and others for all that matters). It is better that we tend to the various buildings/sites that we have rather then change a site which currently is practical.
aleandra pace
Sep 30th 2009, 19:53
Shame on the Maltese Government and the Maltese people
victor pulis
Sep 30th 2009, 19:20
How can the persons responsible for our heritage and who are in a position to do something to rectify past mistakes lay their heads on their pillows and sleep at night? knowing that soon this jewel of a fort may be just a memory gives me the shivers and I break out into a sweat. Meanwhile, the 'experts' are taking their time waiting for the glass to crack. Fort St. Angelo needs VIF treatment not just patching up. Please do something before it's too late.
Those interested in fort St. Angelo can access facebook page 'St. Angelo' and become fans.
s.caruana
Sep 30th 2009, 18:20
Mhux ahjar flok il-gvern bil-pompa kollha u bid-daqq tal-"PJANU" li se jibni mill-gdid it-tejatru l-imwaqqa jibda jiehu hsieb b'urgenza dak li ghadu ma waqqax!! Jew il-kapurjuni li jbilu subaghjhom fl-ilma mbierek ma jarawx qliegh f'dan ir-restawr. Jew minn jaf qed nistennew li jaqa' halli jkollna skuza tajba biex naghmluh appartamenti......ara hemmhekk bil-kju ikunu l-kapurjuni tal-pajjiz ha jahtfu u kulhadd jiggieled biex jirbah it-tender u irhilhom jghidulna kemm ghandhom ghal qalbhom il-patrimonju malti!!!!!
Laurence Zerafa
Sep 30th 2009, 16:18
Seeing the sorry state to which this fort has been reduced through negligence makes me want to cry with sadness. Parts of Fort Ricasoli are already a heap of stones and Fort St. Angelo will soon follow the same fate.
If we can dream up an 80 million parliament project surely we should find the money to restore this prestigious fort to at least a respectable or even simply a safe site. If we state that the money is not available then drop the new parliament project and and use some of those millions to restore this jewel and other hisotrical sites.
Anthony Farrugia
Sep 30th 2009, 14:22
WHAT A SHAME! What if the authorties instead of building new in appropiate buldings such as the Rezo Piano nightmare or the Vittoriosa clock tower invest in restoring authentic buildings such as fort Saint Angelo. I am sure that if such historical place was in U.K., Italy or any other country they would keep it in perfect condition and be so proud of it. When it was under the Britsih authorities all in all in was being cared for, soon it will be a heap of stone.
WHAT A SHAME
Philip Micallef
Sep 30th 2009, 14:19
Says a lot for our priorities and our cultural trait.
Bernice Ciantar
Sep 30th 2009, 14:11
There are no words to describe this, except for the mild term shameful, which is not strong enough to be used in this case.
Tears pour down my eyes when I see such an important piece of history in that state and with nothing being done about it.
Of course, nothing personal (as in some underhanded cash) can be had by anyone in government who intervenes to save this jewel, so it is very probable that it will not be fixed. What a pity!
Joe Diacono
Sep 30th 2009, 11:00
Fort Saint Angelo is part of our precious heritage, it astounds me to read about situations where a jewel like this is left to deteriorate to such an extent. It is obvious that the shrubbery and trees left to grow close to the bastions have caused irreparable damage.
Whilst acknowledging that a proper study needs to take place ,we can ill afford to drag our feet further in this matter.
Urgent intervention needs to take place before the site is reduced to one huge pile of rubble.
This then needs to be followed up by a strategic plan on how best to maintain this wonderful jewel in the heart of The Grand Harbour with such a glorious and colourful history.
The venue can easily sustain itself if properly maintained and be yet another of the heritage sites we could add to demonstrate where our true potential as a destination lies.
I strongly suggest having the local council be made guardian in collaboration with Heritage Malta, and The Knights of The Order of St. John to not only ensure it’s survival but also finally create a value added venue for the appreciation of one and all.
Steve Evans
Sep 30th 2009, 10:31
This is not just a National disgrace for the Nation, but also the better part of the known civilised world! Shame on all.