Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1028264
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 SEPTEMBER 2018 JAMES DEBONO ROAD widening works at tal- Balal have prompted concern on the fate of an old vaulted cis- tern found on a farm at tal-Balal, opposite the GP Borg batching plant. Sources told MaltaToday that the works have obliterated the old style archways and the cis- tern's ceiling built in the tradi- tional way with xorok (stone slabs). Photographs taken during the works also suggest the removal of the top part of the structure. The stones that used to make up the arches and the ceiling are still on site. Nationalist MEP candidate Mi- chael Briguglio has written to the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage to solicit action on the damage done to the"centuries old cistern" during rushed works "which skipped normal planning procedure". But a spokesperson for Infra- structure Malta told MaltaTo- day that these underground wa- ter reservoirs are being covered with "new ceilings so that they can continue to be used by their current owners or tenants". The Superintendence has not been consulted before the com- mencement of the works which started before a planning appli- cation was even submitted. In other cases where old cis- terns are found in sites ear- marked for development, the Superintendence usually calls for the preservation of such structures. Wherever this is not possible these structures are re- corded. Infrastructure Malta is cur- rently upgrading Triq tal-Balal, a major road link between Naxxar, Gharghur, Iklin and San Gwann, to add two new lanes, pavements and cycling-friendly infrastruc- ture and to improve the efficien- cy and safety of the roundabouts along the way. According to a spokesperson Infrastructure Malta is currently discussing the on-going works with the landowners, tenants and businesses of the area to provide them with the necessary support and minimise disrup- tions to their operations. All agricultural features includ- ed in the new road alignment's footprint, such as rubble walls, are being rebuilt along the new edge of the carriageways. "Any soil excavated from the area is being retained in the same fields, in agreement with the owners or tenants who cul- tivate them. All excavated soil is being sieved on site to separate any rocks, waste or other mate- rials. Rocks extracted from this process are reused in the build- ing of the new rubble walls". The alleged damage to the cis- tern is not the first case of envi- ronmental degradation result- ing from the road works to be reported. Five owners of land in Gharghur have denounced that fig trees and bay laurel trees lo- cated on their property have been destroyed during works carried out in their property without their knowledge. The Environmental and Re- sources Authority, which was consulted after works had al- ready been commenced, has ex- empted the project from an En- vironment Impact Assessment noting that the environmental impacts from the development are not likely to be significant. ERA had previously expressed its concern that works had com- menced without permission. Works at tal-Balal are being considered urgent to reduce ex- isting difficulties in commutes to and from the Mater Dei Hos- pital, the University of Malta and other nearby commercial, industrial and residential zones such as Gharghur, Tat-Targa, Birguma, Madliena and Ibragg. NEWS MINISTRY FOR HEALTH PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR EUROPEAN FUNDS AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE PUBLIC HEALTH IS YOUR GUARANTEE. TAKE PART. NATIONAL SURVEY ON THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH PROJECT PART-FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION FLIMKIEN Ghall-Ambjent Ahjar are objecting to the demolition of what has been described as "possibly the old- est building in Birkirkara". Developers want to demolish what was described as a "dilapi- dated building" inside Birkirka- ra's urban conservation area, ad- jacent to the residence of former President and Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami. Although clearly neglected, the building's features such as its stone-work around the door could hark back prior to the Victorian era when most of the buildings along the High Street were constructed. According to FAA the building is unquestionably "one of cultur- al, social and historic value and should be protected, retained and restored". According to art historian Mario Buhagiar, stylistic and technical considerations suggest that the house dates back to the late 16th or early 17th century. This would make the building one of the last standing remind- ers of pre-19th century Birkirka- ra, one of Malta's oldest towns mentioned in a 1436 Ecclesiasti- cal Report. An architect familiar with the area indicated that the build- ing could be an old farmstead which found itself surrounded by more modern buildings as the town grew in the 19th and 20th centuries. The demolition would make way for an office at ground floor and three residential units at first, second and third floor. The Planning Authority had already approved the demolition of the building in February 1998 de- spite a recommendation by the case officer to refuse. Despite the permit, the development was never carried out and the permit has since expired. The application in question still has to be assessed by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage. Demolition request for 17th century house near Fenech Adami residence Works on historical tal-Balal cistern reported to Superintendence Road widening work have damaged cistern's ceiling and arches