Two vertical concrete pillars just erected at Haywharf have caused an outcry. Hiding the bastions behind them, a picture of the grey concrete structures ended up making the rounds on Facebook, drawing cries of disgust.
The concrete structures and adjacent buildings form part of a €4.8 million project part-funded by the EU to upgrade the army’s maritime base at Haywharf that also includes the extension of the quay. The vertical structures will support new lifting equipment able to pluck vessels from the water and put them back in.
The start of the upgrade process was announced in November last year and an artist’s impression had also been produced.
But while many would have disregarded the news item, Astrid Vella, leader of environmental group Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), did not.
Writing on Facebook she expressed disgust. “When we had tried to object about three years ago, we were told that they are exempt from Mepa permits because AFM structures fall under the national security exemption. But I never expected anything this obscene! Where is UNESCO?”