Workers were painting over the wiring put up on the Auberge de Castille’s facade yesterday in an attempt to camouflage cables from the new lighting system.

They were seen using stone-coloured paint to cover the white wires that clashed with the recently restored stone facade.

Workers were also plastering the holes drilled to accommodate the wiring of the controversial lighting system.

The actions follow this newspaper’s revelations last week that the conditions imposed by the Cultural Heritage Superintendence included colour-coded cables to blend in with the stone. Another condition was that all interventions should be of a reversible nature.

Workers were also plastering the holes drilled to accommodate the wiring of the lighting system

The lighting system came in for harsh criticism from architects and conservation experts over its aesthetic inappropriateness and its physical impact on the historical building.

Last week the Cultural Superintendence, the entity tasked with ensuring the protection and accessibility of Malta’s cultural heritage, said it was hopeful “corrections” would be made to Castille’s lighting system.

But Cultural Heritage Superintendent Anthony Pace refused to say whether the controversial lighting system was in line with the conditions imposed by his office. He distanced himself from the project, insisting his office had no power to order the dismantling of the system.

Testing and commissioning of the lighting system is still being carried out.

The project, which should also see similar LED light tubes mounted on St James Cavalier and the Malta Stock Exchange building, was entrusted to RVC Ltd, which won a government tender worth €300,000.

RVC was the only bidder.