Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1493026
NEWS 16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 FEBRUARY 2023 JAM ES DEBONO THE Madonna ta' l-Aħrax statue at the cliff edge of l-Aħrax tal-Mellieha is to be moved by five metres to safe- guard it from a ground fissure which could destroy it. The statue will be moved to a site where the rock is more stable, where a chapel origi- nally stood. The chapel had also been relocated in the past and now stands several metres away from the rock edge. A Restoration Method State- ment reveals that natural de- velopments have led to the formation of a fissure, which may lead to the collapse and loss of the statue in question. The government's restora- tion directorate wants to safe- guard the existing statue and memorial plaque by relocating it to safer grounds. The ex- isting pedestal could also be replaced by a design based on that of the original structure as documented in a photo of a previous statue, with pro- portions which better respect the size of the existing statue. But the pedestal will not be replaced if underlying original structures are found. An 1870 plaque encased with- in the concrete statue pedestal refers to the year when Bishop Fra Gaetano Pace Forno be- stowed indulgencies on those who recited a prayer in front of the statue. But the plaque was not originally attached to the current pedestal and stat- ue, as a historic photograph indicates that the original was at some point in time replaced by the current one. The plaque granting indul- gences will be retained within the front of the monument, but a deteriorated lantern that is out of proportion to the statue will be removed. The l-Aħrax cliff-edge is dis- playing similar geotechnical issues typical of other coast- line ridges in Malta and Gozo, but given the lack of studies, the rate of ground movement is as yet unknown, and a pre- cise prediction of a collapse cannot be made. Because of the immediate vi- cinity of the cliffs where sea- birds nest, Birdlife has called on the authorities not to con- duct relocation works during the sensitive breeding period between January and July, dur- ing which time vibrations and noise can impact the colony. As approved by the Planning Authority last week, the works can only commence following the issue of an Environment permit by ERA. L-Ahrax statue to be moved due to rock fissure A historic photograph indicates that the original was at some point in time replaced by the current one (left)