(Adds reaction by St John's Foundation)
Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar has expressed concern over a development application to extend St. John`s Museum by constructing a new three-storey building on the courtyard along Merchants Street, to provide extra space as well as a canteen at roof level.
"The present façade of the Cathedral along Merchants Street will be completely altered by this structure which through postwar has now blended into the context of St John’s. This new structure will be built above the graves of the Knights of the Order," FAA said.
The NGO said a second application proposes to extend St. John`s Co-Cathedral Museum by excavating chambers below St. John`s Street, connecting them to existing underground water reservoirs, to construct a vertical lift through all floors as well as other alterations.
"These two water cisterns are amongst the earliest in Valletta, thought to have been built on the insistence of Laparelli, and should be preserved intact as evidence of the advanced engineering techniques as well as the foresight of the Order in assuring Valletta’s water supply," the NGO insisted.
MEPA recently scheduled St John's Co-Cathedral as a Grade I national monument, the highest grade of scheduling possible, FAA said.
"Clearly, this does not permit an extension which changes St. John’s external appearance, just as the Cathedral does not need an extension in order to remain in use."
"This underground exhibition space is intended to house the Gobelins tapestries, however in addition to the problems of creating access, this would require a considerable air and humidity control installation which will cause further damage to the vaulted cisterns. It is felt that the potential risks posed by exhibiting priceless old tapestries in underground chambers, as well as the inevitable damage to part of the most important monument that Malta possesses, are totally unacceptable.
"The excavation of St John’s Square to provide more chambers might not only affect the Cathedral’s foundations, but also destroy the remains of previous knights’ period structures there. A further issue is that such a historical and long-established urban environment that has long been enjoyed by Valletta residents and visitors should not be destroyed, disrupting the community by depriving it of trees which are essential for shade and help to remove pollutants from the air."
The Saint John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation in a reaction said it had submitted two applications before MEPA for the development of the Saint John’s Co-Cathedral Museum.
"The main aim is to display in a state-of-the-art museum the world unique and priceless collection-set of tapestries together with a very wide range of artefacts that today remain very inappropriately exhibited or hidden from both the Maltese public and the visiting tourists. Storing such artefacts may not be the best way of preservation and care."
It said its proposals were based on technical advice and followed extensive internal discussions that took into consideration the fact that Saint John’s is a world treasure and that nothing would be done that could in any way compromise its integrity.
"The Foundation will be implementing any safeguard recommendations following the project’s impact assessment that would take into consideration any potential negative effect. As a responsible agency, the Foundation would never risk any real or potential damage to the Co-Cathedral or any of its possessions," the foundation added.
It said that since its establishment by the Government and the Catholic Church in Malta in 2001, it had made solid contributions towards the preservation, restoration and maintenance of Saint John’s that are both visible and tangible.
"Interested NGO’s would be most welcome to join the Foundation in search of the most appropriate structure as well as safeguards for the construction of a world class museum for a world class monument.
"However, any rushed conclusions, particularly if based on incorrect assumptions or lack of information, regarding the Foundation’s applications before MEPA could be inopportune at this stage. Any concern about St John’s Co-Cathedral is the concern of the Foundation."