No plans yet to restore crumbling Fort Delimara

Raymond Hinton

Feb 3rd 2010, 23:48

I would very happily give my time and trade skill (electrician ) to this fort, and do any manual labour that i can, we have seen the outside, i would love to get inside and see these guns, im an ex soldier,so this place has meaning to me, but its all a pipe dream unless the bueracrats digg into the pot and flash a few euro`s, soon as the society has made £5000 it can register as a charity and all those tax benefits will come the forts way too !

William Grech

Feb 3rd 2010, 22:41

A lot of whining is going on about what the Government is not doing and about the lack of funds.

All very well and true.

However, if half of those who are are whining were to commit themselves into volunteering into proposal writing and fund raising with FWA, Heritage Malta or Din l-Art Helwa, they would, first of all, be strengthening civil society organisations, working in a practical manner towards achieving what is clearly a worthy cause very close to their heart, helping the country and doing what the Government "is not".

As Steve Cassar stated, it is easy to criticise from one's armchair but when you're leading you have to set priorities.

Why should we always expect things to be done by the Government? Is it not too obvious that there is a limit to what a Government of a small country like ours can achieve?

The beauty of civil society lies in the simple fact that committed individuals strive to achieve what they really believe in without waiting for the Government to do it for them. This is my invite - roll up your sleeves and join a heritage NGO.

Paul Galea

Feb 3rd 2010, 21:08

Paul Galea, Warrington To: S. Grixti
Thanks for sharing photos. This fort was easy to enter, circa 1967/8. The guns were in a much better state, in particular no rust pitting, and the various mechanisms had been oil-sprayed, so not tarnished or rusted. Then the rot set in: vandals and thieves, damaged what could not be carried off.
The gun carriage sat on bogies, each on brass or bronze rollers. These were removed over time, by wedging the gun up at one end, and removing the bogies on either side, then repeating the process at the other end. Ultimately only the central 2 or 3 were left. Then the fort was given over to somebody as a pig farm. The remaining bogies appear to be now missing. Also the rods for the hydraulic recoil absorbers (or running-out cylinders) seem to be cut, presumably in preparation of liberating the brass fittings.
Further items also recieved attention, in particular cast iron fittings, and an ammunition hoist: useful for hauling boats. Raiding for metal scrap was also suffered by the various lesser forts in the vicinity.
All very sad, but it was not considered safe at that time to report to the authorities.

David Gauci

Feb 3rd 2010, 17:37

The FWA has an excellent proven track record of turning pityful historical sites into active historical gems. Why not hand it over to them? I am sure they will not allow it to be destroyed by our neglect.

K Serracino

Feb 3rd 2010, 16:57

Lets develop the whole area as a recreational or adventure parks and remove all land squatters and give it back to the Maltese.

There is none in the South and this will definetly embellish the whole area.

Raymond Hinton

Feb 3rd 2010, 13:54

All the restoration that is being done is fantastic, and visible to the visiting tourists ( me included ) thats the whole point of me writing my letter, its an area of Malta that seems forgotten, as the report says, and i missed in my letter to the EU, the fort is not the only attraction that needs restoration, but it is the only one in any danger, if some wave breaking Acropods can be put at the base of the cliffs, it will slow the erosion and give time for funds to be accrued to save it properly, im sure venice have finnished with the Acropod moulds, and would gladly let them go to Malta, oh and they are environmentally friendly, by encouraging sea shore organisms, eureka ! two birds !

s sciberras

Feb 3rd 2010, 13:36

All is needed is when people develop property, contractors are ordered to dig and cut rocks in big chunks so that they can later be deposited at the base of the fort. As an incentive, wastserv will not charge for collection of this construction waste disposal .

Steve Cassar

Feb 3rd 2010, 12:35

some people are complaining that no restoration is being done ...
what about the restoration of all the bastions? Its easy to complain .. but when you are in charge you have to place priorities!
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100201/local/restoration-starts-on-valletta-bastions

G Vella

Feb 3rd 2010, 12:10

Unfortunately this is just the tip of the iceberg. What about the Fort Benghisa, another polygon fort on the other side of the bay (see http://www.faa.org.mt/fort_benghisa )? Not to mention the crumbling Victoria lines and other forts such as Fort Campbell.

It is true that restoration and preservation of these forts requires funds, but what is of greatest concern is that we seem to have a government that does not even seem to spare a thought as to how we can preserve this part of our history for future generations.

Raymond Hinton

Feb 3rd 2010, 11:37

I sent a letter to the EU asking for funds to help restore this magnificent fort, fat lot of good that did, they would rather help crank causes and squander money on commitees, rather than save our childrens heritage, if any one is interested its here http://delimara-preservation-society.malta-site.com, all it will need is a few ACROPODS, then it wont erode any more, and the preservation work can begin, i have contacted so many people, including all my local MEP`s, their giving their support but little else, hope i can do some good in saving this brilliant piece of military architecture ! Ray,

S. Grixti

Feb 3rd 2010, 11:36

and even more shame from wikipedia:

Externally the fort is in fair condition. Like all the polygonal forts in Malta, the limestone faces of the scarp and counterscarp have eroded substantially since they were originally cut, in places to a depth of as much as a metre. In some cases this erosion has reached the point that the revetting collapses into the ditch. Where the road to Delimara Lighthouse runs along the east ditch of the fort, directly above the counterscarp face of the ditch a section of perhaps ten metres the counterscarp has collapsed into the ditch, and threatens the stability of the road. The resulting rubble fall can be seen in the image of the east ditch. The ditch is also considerably overgrown, and polluted with general rubbish, unfortunately true of all the Victorian forts in Malta. There is currently no public access to the interior of the fort.

Joe Azzopardi

Feb 3rd 2010, 11:33

So according to Mr Paul Barrett we are supposed to simply let the fort slip into the see. Well Sir that is the only option that is not on the table. Hard times come and go but heritage remains. If the Fort is lost we will all be that much poorer. Thus your solution is unattainable.

S. Grixti

Feb 3rd 2010, 11:32

This is a shame.

I am no history buff but I feel that heritage and history should be preserved.

Look at 3 photos of the gun taken fifteen years ago (according to photo date mark):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/palmerstonforts/1194099297/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/palmerstonforts/1194100615/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wanus/3638202758/

The state is delapetated and wikipedia lists the RML guns at delimara as being 1 of 5 surviving examples albeit in unrestored state ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RML_12.5_inch_38_ton_gun

Tal misthija ! Then an million euros is spent on a stupid square with fountains !

Joe Farrugia

Feb 3rd 2010, 10:45

Government must have the guts to declare once and for all if it regards the south east as part of the country or not

Maria D.Sacco

Feb 3rd 2010, 10:32

There is a VERY dangerous footpath on those cliffs, especially to unfamiliar visitors, not necessarily tourists. Caution is mandatory.

Joe Azzopardi

Feb 3rd 2010, 10:05

One would suppose that a government that has found so much money to spend on a polluting power station extension would find the cash to restore this important element of our heritage. Mario Farrugia is right.

Paul Barrett

Feb 3rd 2010, 09:44

Looking at the picture, I would say that nature has won and to pour any money into preventing the final collapse of this structure, especially in these hard times, is just not sensible.

A.Calleja

Feb 3rd 2010, 09:31

The Delimara area has great touristic potential.... Tourists can embark on a planned historic, geologic & ecologic trail.... After leaving the picturesque Marsaxlokk village, tourists can visit the Maghluq marsh natural reserve, visit the Tas-Silg archeological complex, Xrobb l-Ghagin fort (Island Sanctuary), the new Xrobb l-Ghagin park, visit Hofriet area to see the beautiful geological coastal features and then continuing on to Fort Delimara and Delimara Lighthouse.
There's great potential in this area... let's not ruin it with further development!

iCocker

Feb 3rd 2010, 09:26

Once upon a time we had Fort Delimara ...

... the usual attitude of who cares about our heritage! We budget on anything but not to restore to its past glory our unique military architecture!