Philip P. Leone-Ganado, Ta' Xbiex
Unsightly buildings in the capital city
The initiative of the Mayor of Valletta to renovate and upgrade the façades of buildings in the City is obviously laudable. We have a capital city which is an architectural and historical gem and no effort should be spared to preserve and enhance the patrimony which has been bequeathed to us by past generations.
I have not read the text of the proposed bye-law. However, the report on The Times mentioned that it will become mandatory to paint the façade of buildings every three years. Although the intention is good, the measure is, I feel, rather arbitrary. If a façade is painted with good-quality paint over adequate surface preparation by a skilled decorator, it should last well beyond three years. I dread to envisage a scenario where practically every Valletta pavement is permanently obstructed by scaffolding as workmen ply their trade to ensure compliance with the bye-law. One must also mention the substantial cost factor and the reluctant response one gets when requesting tradesmen to carry out work in Valletta. Then there is the logistical nightmare of working in areas with heavy passenger traffic, especially if these happen to be pedestrianised.
It would make more sense for the council to be empowered to enforce the law on owners/tenants on a case-by-case basis where it becomes obvious that a particular façade is manifestly in need of repainting.
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Joseph Meli
Nov 6th 2009, 14:46
The new bye law entitled as the "Maintenance of Building Facades", proposed by the Valletta Local Council June 2009. It's intention, to..seek or to overcome the ownership traceability hurdle currently impeding the local council from sorting out the..substantial number of derelict properties, which..constitute a public hazard and an..eyesore in Malta's capital.
This law is still currently pending for..publication in the Government Gazette so as to allow the Council of Valletta as to repair and seal off derelict properties if owners are not found, and this would be done at the expense of the property..owners, unless they are dead and had no one in the family to inherit their property? From information..received, the..Council will fix a notice to the properties in question, asking the owners to start..carrying out the necessary..works within a week, failing which, the VLC will move in to carry out such repairs.
Access to properties repaired by the VLC will be denied to their respective..owners, unless these expenses are then refunded. Top..Problem is that..some properties had been requisitioned and hired for Lm20 per annum and even with the new [2010] rate of Euro 185..p.a. is still not enough to do such works..every..three..years.
MBorg
Nov 6th 2009, 13:05
The bye-law proposed amongst other things that "abondoned buildings would be covered in a blank canvas and artists or children could give vent to their creativity " I am sure that the Mayor of Valletta means well , but did he stop to ask if this so called creativity will prove more of an eye sore ? Graffiti or crude rude scribblings will not make the city any better.
"The facades of buildings in Valletta should be painted every three years with the owners being held liable to a daily fine until the job is finished."
Mr Leone-Ganado is right ,modern paints last much more than this. The Mayor must also remember that these works cost money and people do not need another form of tax.
laurence schembri
Nov 6th 2009, 11:48
A mess to say the least.