Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli has called on the government to enact legislation that would give more control over vacant buildings, many of which are dangerous and shabby.

Dr Dingli has been trying to crack down on shabbiness in the capital since he was appointed mayor towards the end of last summer.

Speaking to The Malta Independent yesterday, he said the local council has been facing problems trying to find out whether vacant dwellings in Valletta are government- or privately-owned.

When they are privately-owned, it is very difficult to trace the owners, since often enough, the property would have been inherited and split among siblings, he said, adding that some abandoned shops in Valletta have become dumpsites and are infested with rats.

Moreover, most of the vacant buildings are practically falling apart, posing a danger to passers-by, said Dr Dingli.

The mayor is urging the government to introduce legislation that would give owners of vacant property some kind of responsibility and an incentive to develop their property, and when the property is government-owned, it should be developed and kept in good condition.

Dr Dingli believes it is important to make the capital more attractive, even as a place of residence. Valletta was booming until the late 19th century, but the population started declining in the early 20th century, and went down drastically towards the end of the century.

The number of registered voters in Valletta is currently just over 5,800, but there was a time, in the mid-19th century, for instance, when the population was as high as 24,400.

The number of vacant dwellings currently stands at more than 20 per cent of all dwellings in the capital.

Apart from trying to solve the problem of vacant property, the mayor said something has to be done about facades covered in soot and dirt, some of which have not been cleaned for decades.

“Legally, the council cannot carry out work on private property. If there happens to be broken grating outside a house, for example, technically, the council has no right to fix it, but we sometimes end up taking the risk. But why should the local council break the law to protect the public interest?”

The Valletta mayor said a number of projects are currently underway in a bid to give added value to the city. A number of specialised excursions are being developed, such as one particular one about French elements in the capital city.

Dr Dingli also praised a number of other projects that are all contributing to the regeneration of the capital, like the development of The City Theatre, which recently opened its doors to the public, providing another space for cultural expression in the city.

Asked about the development of the old opera house site, the Valletta mayor expressed satisfaction that the site would finally be developed, and that the President’s Palace will become the country’s largest museum.