Works at a boutique hotel in Valletta have been temporarily suspended in view of damages caused to an adjacent house where a 96-year-old woman lives.
Last week, The Malta Independent visited the house, situated at Old Bakery Street, taking photographs of wall cracks and fissures which manifested when work started on the hotel a few months ago.
Following publication of the story, a warrant of prohibitory injunction presented in court was provisionally upheld and works have been temporarily suspended.
The damages to the woman’s house were caused during work on a building situated in Old Theatre Street, which is being turned into a three-star hotel.
The woman explained to this newspaper how on the first floor of the house, a stone block fell out of the bedroom wall, falling on a bed she occupies– causing her to move downstairs to sleep. A stone was also dislodged in a separate bedroom and in the corridor.
On the second floor, a stone was dislodged in a living room causing a large picture frame to fall on the floor.
She said that the contractor was informed of the damages, however completely ignored her complaints. The relatives expressed their anger at reckless disregard for the safety of the elderly woman.
Architect Ian Cutajar said the alleged ‘accidents’ are to be expected during works involving the rehabilitation of existing structures. However, he did concede that the large block of stone block which was dislodged should not have happened.
The works have been suspended until a decision is taken by the court.