The Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta has expressed its deep concern by the recent planning approval of major residential and commercial developments at Fort Chambray, Gozo.

The Department, in a strongly worded statement, noted that “at a moment in which the nation is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Republic, the Planning Authority has, yet again, given its blessing to wanton destruction of national heritage.”

Eight academics from the Department, stated that they are “alarmed by the insensitive and dismissive attitude towards significant historic buildings and the manner in which they are so easily destroyed or dismantled to make way for commercial enterprise.”

This approval will result in the “dismantling of the historic British Barracks and the contextual obliteration of what remained in the fort’s upper part,” the Department said.

The Department concluded by saying that it is “dismayed at the lack of value that context and history have and at how preservation and re-use do not go hand-in-hand. It is also concerned by the lack of support offered by institutions and professions that are actually meant to protect, conserve and foster regeneration of historic monuments.”

The signatories of the statement are: Dr Mark Sagona, Professor Keith Sciberras, Professor Conrad Thake, Dr Christian Attard, Dr Gilbert Calleja, Dr Matthew Attard, Dr Frederica Agius, and Mr Jesmond Vassallo.

File photo: Moviment Graffitti

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