Unlike previous years, on September 8 Fort Angelo was closed to visitors because parts of the fort were in a dangerous state.

I have been visiting the fort for many years and have written dozens of letters regarding its dilapidated state, but all these pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The reason could be that the fort is not on the government's list of priorities.

If this is the case I cannot understand how, for instance, a bridge costing over €2.8 million spanning one side of the breakwater can take precedence over St Angelo's urgent needs.

The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that there are trees, not caper bushes, but trees growing on the bastion walls. These trees are causing irreparable damage to the curtain wall, which will eventually cause it to collapse. This case is just one of the ailments afflicting St Angelo, which would take up whole pages to list.

Time is against us. If we want to save the fort we must act now before it's too late. Once we lose the fort it will be useless to lament its loss.