Reference is made to "Park and ride works threaten 17th century Floriana bastions" (TMID 2 November) which is both ill-informed and factually inaccurate. It is stated that 'According to well-informed sources, the project's permit conditions stipulate that no construction may take place on or adjacent to the existing fortifications' and that photographs have been sent to this newspaper by a 'concerned environmentalist' allegedly depicting one of the walls under construction adjoining onto the bastions. The article then goes on to quote a 'spokesman' who supposedly stated that 'Superintendence of Cultural Heritage are aware of the situation'.

The Malta Transport Authority is most perplexed by these statements and for the benefit of the readers of this newspaper we should like to set the record straight.

The photograph being used in the article shows the stone work structure that is currently being prepared for security gates which shall be installed on all the access points to the park and ride site. As can be see from the attached photographs of this location, the stonework structure does not breach, rest on or adjoin the fortification wall at any point.

Security gates are being installed on site in view of a recent spate of theft, vandalism and arson to both the old fortifications and parts of the site that are being renovated for the project (see attached photographs). Moreover, the works on site have been further hampered by the illegal dumping of mattresses, tyres, building rubble and scrap iron, by certain individuals, over the last 10 weeks. In fact, so far over 13,000 tonnes of waste material have been have had to be removed from the site and taken to a landfill site.

As announced in the media last week, ADT had taken the decision to introduce security gates and round-the-clock security surveillance in addition to the night time floodlighting of the area in order to combat the above mentioned anti-social problems which, over the last year, seem to have ruthlessly targeted structures of historical and heritage importance in the Portes des Bombes area.

Malta Transport Authority is currently consulting with the Superintendences for Cultural Heritage and Fortifications for methodological advice on the restoration of the fortification walls and features of historical importance that can eventually form part of a heritage trail.

Daniela Borg Mizzi

Manager Public Relations

Malta Transport Authority