The Victoria Lines could be developed into a national heritage trail. Friends of the Victoria Lines Trail have suggested the creation of a long-distance trail on a national scale that would be managed by a government body.

“It would be something completely new for Malta,” founder Jane Caruana said.

A complex network of defensive linear fortifications, the Victoria Lines span approximately 12 kms and cover various localities such as Mosta and Rabat.

A trail at the Victoria Lines has already been set but there was a need to create a “fully evolved” heritage trail where the walking path would guide those visiting, Ms Caruana said.

The Victoria Lines lie in areas of ecological and natural importance, such as Natura 2000 sites.

“Even those who are not interested in military history can visit the area and find something to their liking,” Ms Caruana said.

For the initiative to be successful, central government would have to be heavily involved, organisation co-founder Ray Cachia Zammit added.

However, no government has declared restoration of the area as a priority, he lamented.

The initiative of a national trail could act as a pilot project to the creation of a body tasked with developing further trails of the same scope, he suggested, adding that it would attract tourists to visit more rural areas across the island.

Ms Caruana said that there was also no cohesive management plan for the Victoria Lines, noting that different councils had implemented “piecemeal non-proactive interventions”.

About half a kilometre of the Victoria Lines started undergoing renovation by the restoration directorate last month.

Ms Caruana noted that there was a total lack of basic amenities and “no hint of directional signage whatsoever”.

The Victoria Lines have seen vandalised historical structures and missing stretches of the infantry line, she said.

There were also overgrown trees and shrubs which obstructed the path.

This “state of abandonment” came about as a result of a lack of ownership, Ms Caruana said, noting that the Victoria Lines were located on local council boundaries.  The local authorities also had limited resources to regulate the path, she said.