A Labour MP has asked in parliament whether the restoration of the bastions in Valletta and the Cottonera has started.

The question was put by Silvio Parnis to Resources Minister George Pullicino.

Mr Pullicino, who appeared surprised, said that it was evident that the work had started and one could see the scaffolding which had been put up in several areas of the bastions in Valletta and Cottonera. The process, he said, was well underway.

The minister explained that 85 per cent of the cost (€27.4 million) was being funded by the EU under the European Regional Development. The government was forking out the remaining 15 per cent of the expense together with value added tax and the expenditure which was not eligible.

This work should be concluded in 2013 and it also includes work at Mdina and Cittadella.

Mr Pullicino sai that other restoration work was also taking place on the Valletta and Cottonera bastions by workers from the Restoration Directorate within his ministry, as well as by private contractors after calls for tenders. This work was being financed by the government.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.