I have seen the Environment Impact Assessment brief (EIA) of the proposed Cable Car System for Valletta submitted by the Viset Consortium to Mepa and highlight the three main points below:

The EIA brief includes:

An average of 37 cable cars which will operate in the same way as escalators;

A great quantity of massive iron pylons to support the system all along the stretch from the Grand Harbour waterfront to Valletta and all along the fortifications to the Horns Work Ditch, Blata l-Bajda;

Three buildings, to serve as cable car stations and operators’ rooms, which will be built at:

1. The Horns Work Ditch, Blata l-Bajda;

2. The foreshore of the waterfront at Grand Harbour;

3. Castille Square in front of the Stock Exchange.

I am in a state of shock.

I urge the general public and the media to go and see the EIA brief at the Viset Consortium office which is not easy to come by any other way since it carries a price tag of Lm145. People have a right to be informed about the enormity of the project. They can then come to an informed decision and speak out. The deadline for submissions is 28 March 2005.

Miriam Cremona

Valletta