In reaction to an article carried in yesterday’s The Malta Independent, in which it was stated that the government has no plans to close the gate to traffic, FWA said that there was nothing unrealistic about its plea and offered solutions as to how new traffic arrangements could work out.

In yesterday’s article, TMID quoted government sources as saying that government did not intend to close Portes des Bombes for traffic and that an official reaction could not be given because FWA’s letter requesting such a closure had not reached the ministry.

FWA had issued a statement, shortly after a car crashed in the Floriana monument on 23 July, saying that it had sent a letter to the ministry calling for the gate to be closed for traffic.

In their letter to this newspaper, FWA explained that their correspondence was addressed to “The Ministry for Transport and Urban Development, Valletta CMR02.” On Monday they were informed by a ministry official that the letter had not reached its destination which led FWA sending a second copy.

FWA reacted to comments by government sources, who indicated that government did not plan to close the gate to traffic and that the call seemed unrealistic, mainly because accidents at Portes des Bombes are rare.

FWA repeated its request and said that, on the contrary, there was nothing unrealistic about its request.

“In our opinion, there is nothing unrealistic about closing a narrow gateway to motor transport,” the letter said. The gate was only intended for horse-drawn carriages, FWA stressed, adding that traffic activity is endangering the very existence of the historic structure.

Proper traffic management could very well resolve the issue, even with a re-direction of traffic, which could also serve to ease some of the pressure caused during rush hours.

In its letter, FWA gave examples of such re-direction, saying that traffic approaching Valletta from the south-east could make use of the harbour roads while traffic directed from the Rabat and Hamrun areas should continue using the present thoroughfare. Any traffic from Birkirkara and Sliema could use the road by Sa Maison, said FWA.

“In this way a more efficient flow of traffic can be created and at the same time the Portes des Bombes gate will be relieved from much of the daily traffic stress that it is forced to endure,” the letter continued.

Another option would be the park and ride system that will make use of the open spaces in the Crown Works area. In this way, commuters heading towards Valletta would leave their vehicles before reaching the gate. There has been much talk about the adoption of such a scheme over the years, but it has not materialised, FWA said.

“Although we have no access to any scientific information about the regularity of traffic accidents that occur at this gate throughout the year,” said FWA, “we are sure that a simple examination of police or traffic records will show that accidents at this gate are more frequent than the government is prepared to say.”

In its letter, FWA even identified a number of solutions that could be acted upon without closing the gate. One such solution would be to install traffic-calming methods that would prevent motorists racing through the narrow gates, “as in most cases they do,” the letter said.

In its article, TMID also quoted sources as saying that traffic was given access to similar monuments in other European states. On this matter, FWA, said that this practice had mostly been the case some 20 years ago but that many countries have opted for other solutions since then, possibly because of heightened awareness of the value of such monuments.

“FWA is also aware of cases where motorised traffic is still allowed through historic walls, but this is done in cases where no other option exists other than ripping open new ways into the historic walls.

“In this sense, we are at an advantage, as this misfortune has already been carried out for us by our short-sighted forefathers who mistook official vandalism for progress. The only thing that can now be done about these abominations is to make better use of them to protect the original gate.”

Although Portes des Bombes was never intended to serve as a triumphal arch in the strictest sense of the word, FWA said the gate today stands as one of the most popular landmarks in the country.

“It certainly deserves to be protected in the best way possible. Just a while ago, this gate underwent extensive conservation work by the Restoration Unit within the Works Division. This was carried out at great expense to the tax-payer and the result obtained is an excellent one. This effort should not go waste”, the foundation concluded.