Valletta restoration needs strong measures

The initiative of the mayor of Valletta (Dangerous Valletta Buildings May Be Sealed Off, October 26) must be applauded even though it is unnecessarily complicated and rather timid. Given the importance to the public interest of keeping the streets of Valletta safe and the façades of the historic buildings a sight to behold for tourists as well as Maltese, I suggest that he incorporates in his proposal the following simple and effective measures:

1. If it is easy to identify the owner(s) of the dilapidated building, he/they should be ordered to start restoring it to its former glory within a certain period of time and complete the work before a set deadline. If the owner does not comply with this order the value of the property in its present state should be independently assessed and the property expropriated. The City arranges for the restoration as it sees fit and sells or lets the restored building.

2. If it is hard to find the owner(s), the City sticks a notice on the building and publishes a call for the owners to identify themselves in the two main Maltese and the two main English language newspapers. If the owners do so, the procedure under 1. starts and if they don't, the property is assessed and expropriated. If the owners show up later and can prove that they were indeed the owners, they may be paid the value of the property at expropriation.

If handled well, I am convinced that the City, rather than spend money, could actually make money from such a scheme and promote tourism and the quality of life of its citizens at the same time.