Eleven historical heritage sites located in various localities around the country will be benefiting from restoration via a scheme for local councils, the Ministry for National Heritage, The Arts, and Local Government said on Friday.

The scheme was issued by the Restoration Directorate within the Ministry, in consultation with the Strategy and Policy Implementation Directorate. This will be the eight time that the scheme has been issued since 2015, with the Ministry saying that 41 localities have benefitted from the initiative through 54 projects.

The localities that will benefit from this scheme are Rabat (Malta), Żejtun, Swieqi, Qormi, Mellieħa, Qrendi, Balzan, Tarxien, Birkirkara, Hamrun and Mqabba.

The projects that will benefit from restoration are: Our Lady of Victory Chapel (Bell Tower) - Birkirkara; Stone Cross - Balzan; Manikata Parish Church (Sculptural Feature) - Manikata, Mellieħa; Military Wall - Madliena, Swieqi; Għajn tal-Ilma behind the St Paul's niche - Rabat; Ġnien tal-Kmand - Qrendi; two niches in Mqabba; the facade of the cemetery in Tarxien; church parvis San Ġorġ – Qormi; the facade of Palazzo Balcas – Ħamrun; and Santa Marija tal-Ħlas chapel in Żejtun.

The Minister for National Heritage, Arts, and Local Government Owen Bonnici said that this scheme aims to valorise the historical heritage of the local communities which is dear to the hearts of the families within the respective localities. He continued that the government is committed to carrying out initiatives which look after the preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of historical places.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli said that the preservation of cultural heritage is a priority shared by the government and the local councils, and praised the local councils for bringing forward historical sites to be considered for the scheme. She added that along with preserving cultural heritage, projects like this increase the country’s competitiveness in tourism.

Present at the news conference were representatives from the Directorate of Restoration and the Directorate for the Implementation of Strategy and Police. The Mayors of the eleven local councils benefitting from the scheme were also present.