Hats off to Alfred E. Baldacchino for his comments about the environment surrounding Vittoriosa and Cospicua (November 7).

Should he visit Cottonera in broad daylight instead of by candlelight, he would notice more neglect and lack of maintenance in some areas. The once pristine Vittoriosa Marina is in dire need of a facelift: cracked paving mainly caused by trespassing vehicles, dead plants and trees, weedy flower boxes, a heavily rusted “Sails and Dolphins” embellishment at the inland sea.

The new landscaping at Cospicua waterfront is already invaded by saplings of alien castor-oil trees which will mature in hostile clusters similar to those near the Marsa sports ground. In order to eradicate re-growth, the young trees need to be uprooted and not moved.

Upon restoration of Fort St Angelo at Vittoriosa and the full development of Dock 1 at Cospicua, which hopefully will grace a decommissioned frigate for an attraction, the area will generate more visitors.

Let us not abandon our historical heritage to neglect and lack of maintenance so characteristic of us Maltese.