Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1396480
6 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 28 JULY 2021 LUKE VELLA THE National Book Council and AP Valletta are proposing a project that would regener- ate and introduce new spaces within the Central Public Li- brary area. The aim is to reinstate the historical link between the bastions, create a new green, open and safe space, and con- nect MICAS to the Valletta en- trance. This proposal is also part of 'Building Futures', a collabora- tion between AP Valletta and the Malta Chamber, which is also endorsing the project. David Felice, AP Valletta's executive director laid down the proposal to restore and en- hance the historic area, while injecting new life into the li- brary and bring together the building to the surrounding landscape. Mark Camilleri, the Chair- man of the National Book Council explained that the aim is to save this historic building, while also making the public libraries more accessible and attractive to the general pub- lic. He also noted that since the area had been left abandoned for several years, it is necessary to restore the library and also save it from any potential spec- ulative development by private contractors. The four pillars of the re- generation project will be to improve visibility and accessi- bility through a new green pe- destrian access, offer more and improved indoor and outdoor space, provide a series of flexi- ble spaces to diversify activities and extending opening hours. Artist's impression of the new green pedestrian access (above) and of more improved outdoor space (right) National Book Council and AP Valletta propose Central Public Library regeneration LUKE VELLA THE Federation of English-language schools (FELTOM) has welcomed new exceptions for vaccinated students to re- turn to Malta, enacted by legal notice by the Public Health Superintendent. The amendments allow for exceptions and special permissions in line with de- cisions taken by the health authorities. This amendment follows the decision to close all the English language schools earlier this month. The Superintendent of Public Health also followed with amendments which include the re-opening of schools for fully-vaccinated adult students. "FELTOM has always stood up for the various serious operators in the sector, which have been crippled after the sud- den decision to close the classrooms, af- ter a spike attributed to the ELT school. This, notwithstanding the fact that sta- tistics show that only a small percentage of foreigners aged between 0-24 who visit Malta, come to learn English," the organisation said. "FELTOM strongly believes that the re-opening of the schools should be solely and exclusively for fully-vaccinat- ed adult students who have every right to visit Malta as any other fully-vaccinat- ed tourist. Denying them this right is, in itself, discriminatory and will further damage the sector financially and repu- tationally." FELTOM said the change to the legal notice was the first step towards the in- dustry's return to normality. English-language schools to reopen for vaccinated adult students