Heritage group Din l-Art Ħelwa expressed its disappointment that the “crucial relocation” of the monti stalls has been reduced to a “political tug of war”.
The destiny of City Gate is too important and should not continue to fall victim to political forces brought to bear by any side, it said in a statement.
The heritage NGO is one of many entities, including the Chamber of Commerce, which spoke out against the relocation of the stalls from Merchants Street to Ordnance Street, close to the new Renzo Piano parliament building.
Din l-Art Ħelwa said this important decision, which could alter the entrance to the capital city forever, so soon after it has found new dignity, “requires those with deciding power to rise above political pressure to do what is right”.
The ‘noble brow’ of Valletta must be left free of the dross and drab of any market
A number of recent statements may cause the government to dig its heels in just to prove it is superior to the public reaction.
This risk became apparent over the weekend, when the Opposition leader took a stand against the decision to relocate the monti while the Culture Ministry said it supported a move that could involve the area between Pjazza Rjal and the new parliament.
The NGO said it was also concerned that the monti stands may not be dismantled after use but also used by artisans.
“This makes the situation pretty irreversible, as the market will become a permanent fixture in the most inappropriate location,” it said.
“The ‘noble brow’ of Valletta, that extraordinary area between Auberge de Castille, the theatre ruins, the new parliament and down to St John’s Cavalier must be left free of the dross and drab of any market,” DLĦ said.
Only this would ensure that the entrance, soon to be the entrance to the celebrated European Capital of Culture, was not demoted once again to the “third world bazaar it has been for decades”. The issue of the open-air market relocation made the headlines recently after the finalised designs of the stalls emerged, prompting a chorus of disapproval. Since then, the government has issued a call for expressions of interest to redesign the stalls.
Experts involved in Valletta’s regeneration, together with the V18 Foundation, the Valletta and Floriana councils and leading architects, have all spoken against the choice of Ordnance Street for the monti relocation.
The Renzo Piano project will be discussed on tonight’s edition of Times Talk on TVM at 6.45pm.