Military buildings deserve respect
On May 27, I attended the military event in Mtarfa. The organisation was a professional one, especially when touring the old hospital and visiting the morgue, etc. Well done to all involved.
It’s so disgusting to see other military buildings turning to shambles with all kinds of coloured aluminium apertures, various aerials, satellite dishes, water tanks and so on. The Land Department must issue a number of regulations before leasing such property and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority should monitor sites before it is too late!
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john vernon
Jun 9th 2012, 19:48
If you dont like the old structures in malta, why dont you return to the old falling down structures in the UK mate, i for one love the achitecture in malta, and its their island if this is what they want to restore its their choice, not some misserable history destroyer.
Dennis Thompson
Jun 9th 2012, 04:09
No Andrew Azzopardi. I was not being ironic.. The Maltese have inherited massive and mostly attractive buildings and fortifications constructed during the period of the knights. But at what a price. To be restored, refurbished and long term maintained to a high standard just cannot come cheap. The Government does not pay. Its the hard pressed tax payer. Now along come a "few" people who say hey we should look after the decaying British barracks at st andrews (did i really read that !!) and similar. Come on, get real. flatten the lot and build modern. Yes and modern spacious homes for modern Maltese who rather live in a nice home than to visit some refurbished squaddies living quarters of yesteryear!.
oliver mallia
Jun 9th 2012, 11:49
@Dennis Thompson
Historical buildings are the main resources of our island!
Is this the way you express your self? You should be a shame speaking this way about our country. In Malta we have loads of modern buildings that suits our island and we don’t need any Singapore entertainment attractions as you sated. Keep enjoying our good standard of living in Malta and that’s it! We don’t need your poor consultancy. Remember, Malta is no longer under British Colony. PS I greatly appreciate if your reply will be letter the editor on Daily Times of Malta.
Please except my challenge
William Spencer
Jun 9th 2012, 22:43
Tourists ( who are a major revenue for Malta / Gozo ) do not come over to view modern " pigeon loft " apartments, or bland, alleged moderm luxury homes for modern Maltese. They come to see historical buildings with character.
As for the refurbished squaddies living quarters of yesteryear, they had more spacious accommodation than the monstrous " jerry built " flats / apartment that are now sprouting up everwhere on the Islands, in place of houses / properties of character. They cannot Let them,or sell them, they are unecessary and unwanted .
Refurbish the old buildings !!
oliver mallia
Jun 8th 2012, 23:17
Prosit Carmel Vella, nwaqwhom u nibnu flats tal-gvern b’hall ma hemm faccata ta dawn ux? Missek tisthi .
@Dennis Thompson please note that Malta is no longer under the British Colony.
Carmel Vella
Jun 8th 2012, 16:43
Pull all those old buildings down, and build apartments for today's families.
P Bonnici
Jun 8th 2012, 14:15
What a monstrosity of an extension on such a beautiful building.
tony abela
Jun 8th 2012, 11:29
I think most the Maltese public thinks that History of Malta was until the Knights left and maybe consider the couple of years of French occupation.
The 200 years of British presence is more or less neglected. It is true that the British sometimes put their military requirements before the Maltese Heritage. But it is about time that the Authorities give due protection to some of the military structures which incorporates historical events.
One only has to go to Dingli Cliffs and see structures which were used by the first radars in Malta way back in 1939, which were the 1st British Radars used outside the UK which happened to be concurrently with the 1st radars in the UK either completely neglected and falling to pieces or maybe the few luck ones are parts of modern residential units.
I strongly believe that MEPA should take all necessary steps to conserve these and similar structures.
Personally I raised the issue to schedule the 'Widna' at Maghtab and MEPA at least have given it a Grade 2 Schedule. One should note that the Maghtab structure which was built in 1934 is unique outside the UK. Although at the time they planned four more in Malta and others at Gibraltar and Singapore, only the Maghtab one materialised.
Giovanni Rizzo
Jun 8th 2012, 09:49
Similar scenes around the St.Andrews,St,Georges and Pembroke areas,not forgetting the Australia Hall.
Dennis Thompson
Jun 8th 2012, 15:21
So what is the solution. Millions more in tax to pay for restoring crumbling walls of , to be frank, historically minor buildings of little importance? Better to earmark your ever-reducing funds to exisiting well maintained buildings. As for the rest...flatten them and make better use of the land. Maltese and tourists surely do not want to live in or visit an open museum of days long gone. Plenty of historical sites all over Europe. Not everyones cup of tea. Make way for private enterprise and truly great super modern entertainment attractions similar to what Singapore has done and what the USA is so good at. Think big and get a big winner. Go forward to the future.
Andrew Azzopardi
Jun 8th 2012, 20:11
@ Dennis Thompson
I trust you are being ironic.
Please choose the reason of your report below: