Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1003259
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 JULY 2018 6 NEWS JAMES DEBONO THE proposed regional park in Cottonera will make it pos- sible to jog or walk all the way from Ghajn Dwieli in Fgura to Is-Sur ta' San Alwigi in Zab- bar, thus giving residents and visitors the opportunity to ap- preciate this feature of Mal- tese history. But the project also includes a cacophony of other devel- opments ranging from beach volley to zip lines, which have raised the concern of the Su- perintendence for Cultural Heritage. The jogging path will link all the historical forts in the area including Is-Sur ta' San Alwigi, Is-Sur ta' San Gakbu, Bieb Haz-Zabbar, Is-Sur ta' San Klement, Is-Sur ta' San Nikola, Bieb il-Polverista, Is- Sur ta' San Gwann and Is-Sur ta' San Pawl. Apart from the jogging trail, plans for the regional park al- so envisage numerous sports and recreational facilities in- cluding a zip line, a dog park, beach volley, picnic areas and other amenities. The original plans, which have yet to be replaced by new ones, include a contro- versial dirt race track in Ghajn Dwieli. Following protests by residents the government an- nounced that the park will not include a race track. But both the Environment and Resources Authority and the Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage are calling for more details on the proposed development. While describing the pro- posed park as a "positive de- velopment", the Superintend- ence questioned "whether excavations for structure foundations, services for amenities including toilets, kiosks, fountains, lights are necessary". It is also not clear "whether any of the proposed adventure structures and zip line will have any visual im- pact on the fortifications". ERA has also asked for a full list documenting the trees in the area after noting that the project "may involve interven- tions on trees protected in ac- cordance with the Trees and Woodland Protection Regula- tions." Nature Trust has also ex- pressed concern about the trees on the site, insisting that only alien trees are removed and replaced with indigenous local trees. "Any indigenous trees on site must remain on site and not removed or translocated". The site was identified as one of a number of "public ur- ban open spaces" in the South Malta Local Plan. These sites can be "upgraded" for public recreational facilities in the form of children play areas or landscaped seating areas for use by the general public. The open nature of these sites has to be retained and only low key environmental improve- ments can be allowed. Cottonera green belt The area constitutes a green belt area located in front of the Cottonera Lines running from Paola, through Fgura, Bormla, Zabbar and up to Kalkara. The Cottonera Line of fortifica- tions was devised in the sev- enteenth century by the mili- tary architect and engineer Maurizio Valperga. Named af- ter Grand Master Nicolo Cot- toner, the patron and driving force behind the project, these fortifications were aimed to protect the three cities and the south-eastern approach to the Grand Harbour and Valletta. Left in an unfinished state, this line of fortifications lacks most of the planned ravelins, ditches and outer-works. In the early eighteenth cen- tury, numerous gates were added according to the design of Romano Carapecchia. Sub- sequently the areas in front of these fortifications were con- verted into agricultural fields and hunting grounds. Today, the Cottonera lines green belt is one of the few surviving natural areas located near the Grand Harbour. These lines, together with other forts and fortification lines around the Grand Har- bour, are designated as Grade 1 scheduled monuments by the Planning Authority and form part of the Grand Har- bour Area of High Landscape Value. The Grand Harbour line of fortifications has also been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jogging through history in Cottonera Apart from the jogging trail, plans for the regional park also envisage numerous sports and recreational facilities including a zip line, a dog park, beach volley, picnic areas and other amenities