Destroy as the sun shines - Astrid Vella
When passing through Heathrow Airport, I am always struck by the choice of photographs used to entice tourists to spend time in London.
This capital, known for its financial centre, does not try to impress with the Shard or other recent high-rise buildings, but uses images of old buildings and heritage areas to attract tourists. Apparently London does not aspire to be Singapore or Hong Kong as we do. London is proud to be London.
Instead here in Malta we are destroying our old buildings with the enthusiasm of an Isis mob led by the Planning Authority and the politicians who direct it. The PA is organising cultural tours, yet blesses the destruction of that same architectural heritage.
It is proud to be sponsoring a German university’s landscape conference in Gozo, yet it permitted the ruination of the Xewkija valley landscape, allowing a car showroom to be built right over an ‘Eco-Gozo’ waterway.
It boasts of the “incredible overall improvement” to be seen in Gozo, yet has granted permits for the demolition of beautiful old houses on Żebbuġ square.
Tragically for Malta, it is the most beautiful old houses that are being destroyed – those with large gardens which draw...