I refer to the letter by Eddy Privitera entitled Sliema Was "Smart" Once (February 17). May I point out that the "jungle of towering blocks of concrete" have a long history, which finds its origins mainly in the Labour government of the 1970s.

May I remind Mr Privitera that it was the late ex-minister Lorry Sant who put a start to the mayhem. This government has at least taken corrective measures to heal the scars of the past. I for one disagree with the height of buildings in certain streets, but how does Mr Privitera suggest that past mistakes are undone?

Once parts of a street are developed with high buildings it makes little sense to leave the rest of the street on two floors. Along streets where there are buildings of five to six floors, freezing development would result in a "jagged" streetscape and sizeable unsightly blank side walls of the "towering blocks of concrete".

It has been reported that in the local plans, the building heights in Sliema have remained as is and in some cases even reduced. Most of the inner streets in Sliema are subject to a height limitation of two or three floors. This government has not made the same mistake made by past Labour administrations. This is another symptom of a smart government!