The Lands Ministry in a statement on Tuesday, said that a “collaboration between two government entities will lead to the removal of the danger from the Qbajjar,Battery in Qbajjar, Gozo.”
As reported back in December, [1] the Zebbug Gozo Local Council said that it had repeatedly spoken out over the last years urging that immediate action should be taken to save the Qbajjar Battery on the outskirts of Marsalforn, Gozo, which, it warned, is in a “very bad state of repair and in imminent danger of collapsing.”
The Council went on to say, “despite the fact that the Council made an agreement with NGO Din l-Art Helwa, and jointly requested that this Battery be handed over to them for restoration. The Government, with its Agencies and Authorities, has not given any definitive answer despite many promises that it will be delivered in a short time.”
In December the Council said that through its Lawyer, it had written to the Minister responsible for Lands to give a clear answer as to what is happening, and up to that date, “despite the passage of time, the Council has not received any answer.”
However, today the Lands Ministry statement has confirmed that “an agreement has been signed between the Lands Authority and Heritage Malta to begin the necessary work to remove the danger from the Qbajjar Battery in Qbajjar, Gozo.” However, there is no mention of the involvement of the NGO Din l-Art Helwa.
The Ministry said that the agreement signed by the two entities provides for Heritage Malta to immediately allocate an architect with the aim of making all the necessary applications with the Planning Authority to address the current danger.
The Lands Authority will then be publishing the tenders and obtaining the services needed to carry out the works. “After this phase, discussions will continue to establish all the works needed in the battery with a decision driven by the obligation to respect and conserve cultural heritage,” the Ministry said.
This battery dates back to the early 18th century and was one of a series of fortifications built by the Knights of St. John. The Qolla l-Bajda Battery is the last of its kind remaining in Gozo. The battery was abandoned by the British Forces in the 19th century.
The Ministry for Lands and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme said that it has in “recent months been in contact with the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government so that talks could begin between the Lands Authority, under whose administration this site is located, and Heritage Malta regarding the future of this battery and these talks led to the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between the two entities.”
Photos: Zebbug Local Council