Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar is insisting that the information on which it has based its arguments against the St John’s Foundation expansion project were based on information obtained from the foundation and Malta Environment and Planning Authority files.

Replying to a statement by foundation president Mgr Philip Calleja, FAA said it found inaccuracies in the foundation’s repeated claims that no excavation would take place within the cathedral’s complex. It said the foundation’s own plans clearly showed two large lifts to be sunk into the subterranean, as well as corridors linking the cathedral to an enormous underground gallery to be excavated in front.

“The proposed extension risks damaging the cathedral’s fabric and ignores the damage the excavation of a quarry in the centre of Valletta will inevitably inflict on Valletta’s unique historic underground tunnel systems, as well as its impact on the fabric of our old capital, its residents, tourists and commercial community.”

It said that at a time of financial crisis, a costly environment impact assessment and an extravagant project costing €16million that had no social, restoration or regeneration contribution was not acceptable from a foundation which was public in nature, being a joint endeavour of the church and the state.