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Condemnations against St John's development multiply
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 31, 2008 - 5:36:31 PM
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A number of statements condemning the proposed development application to extend St. John`s Museum by building an extra exhibition area and a shop onto the courtyard of St. John's Cathedral have been published in the last few hours including from the Malta Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika.
Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), the organization which has been leading the public campaign against the development is urging members of civil society to write to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to object to the project.
FAA claims that the project could potentially affect the Cathedral's foundations and could also destroy the remains of a palace of the Knights' period there.
 In its statement FAA said “Valletta's underground chambers, tunnels, channels and water cisterns for the catchment of rainwater and the disposal of waste water are 16th century engineering treasures, evidence of the advanced engineering techniques of Laparelli and Geronimo Cassar and of the Order's foresight in ensuring Valletta's water supply. As such they should be mapped out, studied and preserved, and not damaged and exploited.”
The statement continues “In addition to contravening several MEPA regulations on the preservation of Urban Conservation Areas, these applications also violate the Heritage Act.”
FAA is proposing that “if the Cathedral needs extensions, these could be accommodated in one of the many palazzos or old buildings in the immediate neighbourhood of the Cathedral which are in an advanced state of deterioration.”
In the meantime, the Malta Labour Party called the proposed development as “insensitive”. Party environment planning spokesman Roderick Galdes, himself a MEPA board member, said the proposed excavations would create a precedent in an area which is meant to be protected as heritage.
The statement by the MLP concluded that the proposed development clearly showed a lack of vision for the capital city, which with the passing of time continues to lose its character.
Alternattiva Demokratika also criticised the proposed project and called upon the St. John's Cathedral Foundation to consider setting up a separate museum solely dedicated to the 29 Goblain tapestries.
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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Latest update:
Aug 3, 2008 - 2:21:51 PM CET
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