Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1524527
6 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 26 JULY 2024 NEWS Did you know? FOUR NGOs are urging the public to op- pose the destruction of Fort Chambray's Married Quarters British Barracks, one of Malta's oldest (c.1898) and the only Brit- ish barracks in Gozo. Din l-Art Ħelwa Għawdex, Għawdix, Moviment Graffitti, and Wirt Għawdex said in a statement that the proposal to dismantle the British Barracks screen (or arcade) and demolish the rest is deeply concerning and violates the Fort Cham- bray Development Brief's Existing Build- ings Retention Policy. "Calling the south-facing portico a 'screen' and suggesting its relocation is misleading," they saud. "The portico is a vital architectural el- ement, providing shade and ventilation. Describing the barracks as 'derelict' over- looks their restoration potential." In Malta, most British barracks, such as Imtarfa, Pembroke, and St George's, have protection status. Fort Chambray's British barracks are unique in Gozo, and the only ones with- in a Knight's period fortification, making their lack of protection unacceptable, the NGOs said. In April 2024, Din l-Art Ħelwa Għaw- dex, Għawdix and Wirt Għawdex called on the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the Planning Authority to schedule the British Barracks at Fort Chambray. The NGOs insist that the processing of the demolishing of the British barracks and development permission application for Phase 3 development (PA 03884/23) should be suspended until the scheduling application is resolved. An emergency conservation order should also be issued to protect the Fort Chambray's British barracks. In their statement, the NGOs say that the Description of works by TBA Periti Architects in the PA application (PA/02454/16) from eight years ago, and resurfacing again now, states 'Disman- tling of British Barracks as part of Fort Chambray phase 3 development (with a view of incorporating the arcade in the future hotel building).' But the description for development permission by Studiourban Architects for last year's application for Phase 3 devel- opment of Fort Chambray (PA/03884/23) proposes the '...demolition of the existing vacant British Barracks... '. "Why the term 'vacant' was inserted is unclear. Does it mean that nobody is re- siding there and therefore it can be safely demolished?" the NGOs asked in their statement. "The barracks are still in a very salvagea- ble state and should be preserved and re- stored. Clearly, the intention is to demol- ish the building, and retain and relocate the portico or 'arcade' as referred to in the 2016 proposal description." They also point out that there are no tourism projects planned for the footprint of the British barracks in Fort Chambray once it is demolished. "Instead, the plan is to build as many maisonettes as possible to sell to the high- est bidder, allowing the new developers, who took over Phase 3 from the previous concessionaire Dr Michael Caruana, to pocket millions of euros." The NGOs are insisting that neither the government nor any developer has the right to destroy part of Gozo and Malta's history that belongs to everyone and fu- ture generations. "The spacious rooms in the married quarters barracks should be repurposed to serve the community rather than pri- vate interests," they said. "This could be a win-win situation: his- tory restored, preserved, and reused for sustainable tourism and Gozo's cultural enrichment, with the barracks serving al- ternatively as a boutique hotel and/or cul- tural centre, community hub, educational facility, and art studio." Greens join forces to save historical heritage at Fort Chambray The NGOs are insisting that neither the government nor any developer has the right to destroy part of Gozo and Malta's history The NGOs say that the proposal to dismantle the British Barracks screen (or arcade) and demolish the rest is deeply concerning Gozo has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and the site now occupied by the Cittadella in Victoria is believed to have been the acropolis of the Punic-Roman city of Gaulos or Glauconis Civitas. During the medieval period, the acropolis was converted into a castle which served as a refuge for Gozo's population. A suburb began to develop outside its walls by the 15th century, and this area now forms the historic core of Victoria. The castle's defences were obsolete by the 16th century, and in 1551 an Ottoman force invaded Gozo and sacked the Cittadella.