Juan Ameen
Thumbs up for Barrakka lift
A century-old link between Valletta and the Grand Harbour can be restored now that the planning authority has approved plans to build a modern version of the old Barrakka lift.
The 58-metre high lift will connect Lascaris ditch to the Upper Barrakka gardens. It will have two passenger cabins with a total capacity of 21 passengers and will be able to carry up to 800 people per hour. Its concrete structure will be covered with a honey-coloured aluminium mesh to blend in with the stone.
The new structure will replace a British-built lift that started operating in 1905 – carrying 12 passengers in each of two cabins – and which was decommissioned in 1973. It was dismantled in 1983.
The latest design replaces a previous proposal for a funnel-shaped lift that had three panoramic cabins and which had been criticised for its heavy visual impact.
The new lift will cost €1.5 million to build and the embellishment of the ditch and the construction of a commercial plaza will cost another €500,000.
The application was submitted by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation after the project was launched in March 2009 by Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt.
The full development permit was yesterday given the go-ahead by the board of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. The permit also covers the paving of Lascaris Wharf, the demolition of the offices of the National Statistics Office and the construction of three shops in the ditch.
Architect David Drago, representing the corporation, explained that the lift was completely reversible and could be removed without leaving any adverse effects on site.
It would be completely detached from the fortifications and would only be connected to the Upper Barrakka Gardens by a bridge. The main structure would include a flight of stairs for safety reasons.
Mr Drago was the first architect to use a new procedure adopted by the planning authority in which the applicant, and not a planning directorate official, as has been the practice so far, presents the case to the board. Both applicants and members of the public are then given a chance to express their opinion.
“The application is not filed by the planning authority and so it should be presented to the board by the applicant. The planning directorate is there to process the application,” Mepa chairman Austin Walker explained before the case of the Barrakka lift was discussed.
Only after the applicant has made his presentation would planning directorate officials submit their verifications and recommendations. Also, any environmental impact assessment reports would have to be submitted by the consultants privately commissioned by the applicants, Mr Walker said.
“In this way, everyone will be doing their part in the planning process and this will help bring about more transparency,” he added.
Mr Drago explained that the need for a quick access point between Valletta and the harbour re-emerged after the government launched the cruise liner terminal project in 2001.
The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage had raised concerns about the original design but did not object to the new one because the visual impact was deemed lighter and the metal mesh made it more visually permeable.
During the meeting, Astrid Vella, from Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, claimed the revised plans had not been available online or at the planning authority offices.
This went against the Aarhaus Convention, which was there to protect transparency, she said, adding that she could not give any feedback on the project because she had not been given access.
But the planning authority dismissed the claims as completely unfounded. “As with any other application, throughout the entire processing of this application the plans were always online for any voluntary organisation, local council or the media to view while also available for the public,” it said.
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Antoine Zammit
Sep 17th 2010, 21:49
I like this idea.. of the lift... again. I recall my grandad talking about it.. But my dilemma stands here: The previous one served for 68 yrs, between 1905 and 1973. We are talking about 1905 technology and engineering. Why is this new one being built, with 2010 technology and engineering being build to last only 25 years and not more???
Edward J Schranz
Sep 17th 2010, 16:26
Is the proposed lift a steel framed structure with concrete panel cladding or is it a pure concrete structure? If the latter case, would it be a prestressed, postensioned structure with seismic qualification? Since it's basically a freestanding structure all the way to the top with a connecting link above (the pedestrian bridge at the top) it would be interesting to know how they're tackling the design of this link between the concrete tower and Baracca rockface during a postulated seismic event scenario if such a structure is required to be built to DBE (Design Base Earthquake) standards. Some 50 years ago when working for the PWD (my boss Godwin Drago - any relation to the current Drago?) I used to go up and down the old steel framed lift structure checking for any loose connections in the steel framing that secured the lift steel tower to the Baracca bastion rock face especially after some minor tremors etc. There were quite a few connections and I found none at the time.
Astrid Vella
Sep 17th 2010, 12:54
The plans that had been available were the old,discarded ones.Noel Grima,reporting in 'The Independent' last Sunday said: "No images of the newly designed lift have been made public and it will be on Thursday that the public will get a glimpse of them"
Until the morning of the hearing, the MEPA website was reporting"No Documents are Available" for this planning application. The plans became generally available online later on that morning.Even if this was a genuine IT glitch, there was plenty of time to correct it since it was flagged up last Sunday.MEPA is responsible for dissemination of environmental information,and lack access,for whatever reason,reflects poorly on its committment.This effectively deprives the public of its right to participate in such decisions as the Aarhus Convention binds MEPA to ensure.
I made it clear at the session that we are not against this lift. The appearance may not be to everyone's liking, but in compensation it is minimally invasive and reversible.On the other hand, regulations and laws have to be respected.The public has a legal right to access planning information-without the plans available where is the much-trumpeted transparency and public participation?
Karl Consiglio
Sep 17th 2010, 12:48
Thank God no one is complaining that it should be built as it was.
Victor Laiviera
Sep 17th 2010, 13:47
It would not be a bad idea to rebuild the lift EXTERNALLY as it was yet with modern mechanisms and safety equipment. Technically, I think it is quite possible.
gcForte
Sep 17th 2010, 11:55
Qeghed niehu pjacir li l-lift ser jerga isir ( min jaf meta ), ghax ser iggeddili l-memorji ta meta kont zghir. Pero ghandi d-dubji tieghi kemm ser ikun profittabli. Ma irridux ninsew li 50 sena ilu, ix xatt tal belt kien il mekka tal business, barra li kien hemm movimenti qawwi ta bastimenti, u daghajjes ghal Bighi, li kien sptar ta l-inglizi. Illum, ghal kemm hemm jidhlu il vapuri tat turisti, u ser juzaw il lift, ser joqomsu tat taxis coaches u tal karrozini. Jekk isfel isir parking ghal karrozzi, ma jghoqodux aktar min hamsin karrozza.( ma nafx jistax isir peres li hemm dhul u hrug wiehed).
R.Borg
Sep 17th 2010, 11:45
PROSIT!
GRAZZI HAFNA TA' DIN ID-DECIZJONI!
SE TITTAFFA HAFNA TBATIJA GHAL HAFNA.
AWGURI!
Antoine Zammit
Sep 17th 2010, 11:09
This is excellent news, now time to bring back the 'Vapur tal-art'.
Alfred Grech
Sep 17th 2010, 10:53
The need for a quick access point between Valletta and the harbour has always been there. It's sad that both administrations dragged their feet for too long. The lift should have been built long time ago.
Hope to see it finished very soon.