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Church awaits EIA on Co-Cathedral applications
By MaltaMedia News
Aug 27, 2008 - 10:57:15 AM
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In a statement released today, the Environment Commission (KA) of the Archdiocese of Malta said that it intended to wait for an environmental impact assessment of the two St John’s Co-Cathedral projects before taking a position on the sustainability of either project.
The Commission appealed that the issue is viewed from a "genuinely sustainable perspective," and said that, "while we appreciate what St John’s Co-Cathedral represents to most of
us, we should do our best not to let our emotions cloud up our
reasoning, to the detriment of making the right and most sustainable
choices in the long-term. Let us not rush into any uninformed decision.
The Commission said that “Every one agrees that the current space at the St. John’s Co-Cathedral museum urgently needs to be improved both in terms of its physical extent and the quality of the museum environment.”
The Foundation for St John’s Co-Cathedral has made two proposals: that of building extra exhibition space in the courtyard of St. John's Cathedral or excavating chambers underneath St John's Street and connecting them to existing subterranean water reservoirs.
Both have been met with strong criticism from many quarters because they threaten the authenticity of one of Malta’s most prized historical monuments. There is also a risk that foundations of surrounding buildings will be put at risk by the excavation works that both projects involve.
Critics of the options provided by the Foundation have proposed that the additional museum space required may be found in a nearby building which would not necessarily be physically joined to the current museum. The Foundation (as well as Din l-Art Ħelwa) has ruled out such an option claiming that the museum artefacts are the patrimony of the Co-Cathedral and should be displayed under one roof or within the same premises not be dispersed.
The Commission said that, “For the KA, the primary guiding principle should be the protection of the integrity of St. John’s Co-Cathedral and its various annexes, while at the same time to display its riches in the best possible way. Because the Cathedral complex was never built with the intention of doubling up as a museum, with time, the available space is no longer adequate to properly house and display its riches.
“If the extension project proposed by the Foundation is found to pose unreasonable risks (as identified through an EIA), then it stands to reason that we have to look for additional space elsewhere. No one, neither the Foundation nor its critics may rule out a priori any option at this stage. This should be the attitude taken by all reasonable people who want to protect our national heritage."
The Commission added that "St. John’s Co-Cathedral is the heart of a whole living city that is in urgent need of regeneration, attention and support. Any proposal opted for should form part of a Valletta Master Plan which would encompass any future plans for the underground use of our Capital City (such as transport and water collection among others).
"Furthermore a close-working collaboration between the Cathedral’s Foundation and the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee will be essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of any proposals," the Commissions concluded.
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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Aug 29, 2008 - 6:18:24 PM CET
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