Recently, in this newspaper I read an appeal to keep the streets of Valletta as clean and tidy as possible. However, keeping the city clean and tidy should not only refer to the collection of rubbish but also to the maintenance of buildings in a good state.

In the middle of Republic Street, in front of the Archaeological Museum, there is an eyesore of a façade which needs to be cleaned and the balcony painted. Another eyesore lies in Merchants Street, corner with St Lucy Street. What was once a very beautiful balcony has become unpleasant to look at.

When I lived in Tunisia, the municipality annually gave notice that the façades must be cleaned and apertures painted. If not done in time, the municipality did the work and the owners paid for it.

Would this do the trick in Malta?