Main picture: TVM

Valletta Mayor Alexiei Dingli has joined V18 Chairman Jason Azzopardi in criticising the new monti stalls, which he described as being "cheap looking"  and unworthy of being part of the Renzo Piano projects.

In comments to The Malta Independent, Professor Dingli said the Valletta Local Council was never consulted by the government on the monti relocation, despite having been promised a say in the matter by Economy Minister Chris Cardona over a year ago.

The Valletta Mayor criticised the location of the project, particularly the stalls that will be placed in the stretch of road running between the new Parliament building and Teatru Rjal.

Prof. Dingli said there were also other issues related to Valletta residents. Firstly, the stalls will be placed beneath residential apartments, possibly resulting in disturbances during the early hours of the morning. The relocation also means that a number of parking spots used by residents could be taken up by the 75 or so monti hawkers.

The Valletta council had also agreed with the government to allow residents who live in the area to exit Valletta via Ordnance Street. This would save them having to drive all around the city. However, since the stalls will be placed in Ordnance Street, the agreement will probably have to be scrapped.

Aksed what he thought of the stall design the Valletta Mayor said "they look rather cheap and should not be put near the Piano project."

Prof. Dingli noted that an earlier design for the Monti stalls made much more sense, not only aesthetically, but also because the stalls could be easily removed. It seems, however, that the new stalls could become a permanent feature.

 

V18 Chairman Jason Micallef also blasts design and concept

Earlier today, Valletta 2018 Foundation Chairman Jason Micallef joined architects who have heavily criticized the newly designed monti stalls.

In a Facebook post, Mr Micallef said he was "saddened by the decision, design and concept behind the relocation of the monti stalls."

Later in the afternoon, the V18 Foundation echoed Mr Micallef's comments.

It said, also on Facebook: "Valletta 2018 is against the decision, the design and the concept of the new monti stalls and their location. The Foundation does not see the move as befitting the architectural fabric of the city’s entrance nor will it benefit Maltese culture in the run up to 2018."

The new stalls, 75 in all, were constructed by public workers, are made out of marine plywood and feature eight-pointed crosses along the front. They were bought by the monti hawkers.

The open-air market is being moved to Ordnance Street. Half of the stalls  will be set up between the Parliament building and Teatru Rjal while the rest will be set up on the other side of Republic Street, next to Palazzo Ferreria, which serves as the Social Policy ministry. The committee to improve the Valletta monti is led by architect William Lewis.

Speaking to the Times today, a number of leading architects criticized both the design and the location of the stalls. Some said the stalls will obstruct views, counter to the spirit of the City Gate project. Others said the eight-pointed crosses are "worse than a cliché." One of the architects said the stalls are actually more like shops. 

Paul Borg Olivier

The Full Monty......Sad Valletta - no other words to describe a decision motivated by bad taste and spite. A typical example of what a Muscat's Government stands for. 

Winston J Zahra

If it was the 1st of April today I would have put the news item about the Monti stalls down to an April Fools joke !! Sadly it isn't a joke and both the location indicated and the so called 'design' of these stalls is pathetic to say the least. We cannot allow the entrance of our capital city, which has undergone so much work to give it back a dignified look, now be reduced to a cheap tacky marketplace ! 

Andrew Borg-Cardona

Guess what will happen now: Joseph Muscat will step in and cancel the Monti Stalls project, and come out a hero. 

Josef Bonello

Apparti l-kruha estrema ta' dawn l-istands tal-monti huma qarrieqa wkoll ghax jghatu l-impressjoni li t-thongs tal-hajta biz-zip quddiem, ix-xugamani tat-tigra ul-flokkijiet foloz tal - Manchester United u tar-Real Madrid huma artigjanat malti! 

Carlo Schembri's idea

Edgar Rossignaud

I appeal to MEPA to refuse to allow the hideous market stalls which the Government wants to install near the new Parliament building in Republic Street, Valletta. Since it is claimed that such monstrosity is to be a permanent fixture, this requires a full MEPA permit. Has an application been submitted at all? I expect immediate PQs on this. I am lost for words. If the PL wanted to spite Renzo Piano so badly, they might as well have painted his project red. We cannot allow these low brow people ruin the quality of our lives which previous governments toiled so much to raise to European levels!