Din l-Art Helwa backs City Gate project, but calls for action on the environment

The newly-elected president of Din l-Art Helwa, Petra Bianchi, this morning described the environment as being “in shambles” and called on the government to address the situation.

“The countryside is scarred with development everywhere, and enforcement on illegal buildings is wholly inadequate. Little progress has been made with alternative energy or the control of emissions. Our coastline and marine environment are under huge pressure, and our water resources are endangered. Important historic sites such as Fort St Angelo and Fort St Elmo are crumbling to pieces,” Dr Bianchi said at the annual general meeting of the environment NGO.

The meeting approved four resolutions calling for protection for Malta's natural water, resources limestone and endangered fish stocks, as well as to protect its air quality.

Referring to the Valletta project. Dr Bianchi said that while it was inevitable that aspects of this project would not be met with consensus, Din l-Art Helwa believed that its overall impact would greatly benefit the capital city.

“Din l-Art Helwa backs the implementation of these imaginative designs, which we regard as a major step forward in the ongoing rehabilitation of Valletta. Din l-Art Helwa believes that this is a project of an exceptionally high standard and that the time has finally come for the entrance to Valletta to receive the attention and the expenditure that it deserves.”

She said that with regard to the opera house ruins, both an outdoor and an indoor theatre on the site would be acceptable on heritage grounds, however Din l-Art Helwa “favours one holistic vision for the entrance to Valletta following contemporary designs of the highest standard.”

“In the past, various designs were put forward for a new roofed theatre on that site, yet none of the designs were ever accepted and at times they engendered as much controversy as we are witnessing today about the proposed outdoor theatre. The Prime Minister has stated that he is still open to ideas from theatre practitioners for this site, and we await the outcome with interest. However a decision must be taken and Valletta must be allowed to move on.”

She also welcomed the fact that the designs would now also extend to the bus terminus and the façade of the residential block at city gate.

The AGM was told that this year Din l-Art Helwa spent another €100,000 on its restoration programmes, mainly on St Anthony’s Battery in Qala, Gozo, the Delimara Lighthouse and works at the organisation’s premises in Valletta. The altar piece and altar at the chapel of Bir Miftuh were restored, several landmarks and statues around the island were saved and restoration continues at the Red Tower in Mellieha. Din l-Art Helwa has spent €700,000 on restoration in the last seven years.

Dr Bianchi has taken over as executive president from Martin Galea who stepped down after his term of office.