An initiative to secure funds to save a 19th century Siġġiewi chapel from collapse has been put on hold as the Planning Authority discusses a ‘general’ agreement on Church properties.

The initiative, the third in the past 15 years, was started by a group of Siġġiewi residents headed by Nationalist MP Ryan Callus, who also hails from the village.

Describing the state of the chapel as “pitiful” and noting it was in danger of collapsing, Mr Callus, who is also a member of the Planning Authority board, said that funds from the Environment Initiative Partnership Programme should be used to restore the chapel, situated close to the Laferla cross.

However, Mr Callus said he was informed by PA chairman Vince Cassar that the restoration had to wait because the government was trying to secure an agreement with the Curia authorities on the scheduling of Church properties.

In a letter sent to Mr Callus following his appeal, Mr Cassar recognised the need for an immediate intervention to save the chapel, but said that it has to wait a little longer.

When the chapel collapses and is no more, then the PA will perhaps grant the restoration funds

“The authority is not approving any funds in connection with works to be done on Church properties until a solution is found on an issue regarding the scheduling of Church property,” Mr Callus said he was told.

Mr Callus added that he was asked to prepare all the necessary documentation so that, as soon as the issue with the Church was resolved, restoration work on the chapel could start.

Sources close to the Church noted that the talks on the scheduling of Church properties had nothing to do with the restoration of the Siġġiewi chapel, considered to be part of Malta’s heritage.

“We cannot understand what the two issues have in common. When the chapel collapses and is no more, then the PA will perhaps grant the restoration funds,” the sources said.

Appeals for money to restore the chapel, dedicated to the Annunciation of Our Lady, have been made since 2002, when it was cordoned off after fissures appeared on its side and facade.

At the time, then Nationalist Siġġiewi mayor Robert Musumeci said that approximately €230,000 was needed to carry out the necessary works.

Last year, a group of Siġġiewi NGOs wrote to the authorities asking for funds for the same purpose.

The chapel of the Annunciation of Our Lady is in a “pitiful” state, said MP Ryan Callus. Photos: Mark Zammit Cordina

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