A coalition of heritage groups has called for new measures to address the
state’s 'intolerable' failure to safeguard the country’s patrimony as guaranteed by the Constitution.

“Our Legacy”, a declaration signed by 22 organisations, calls for a blanket
presumption against the demolition of historic buildings in Urban Conservation
Areas, a binding list of scheduled properties, and a public fund to allow the state
to acquire key properties in exceptional circumstances.

It also calls for the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) to be given
more resources and a strong legislative framework to carry out its work, and for
protection mechanisms to be strengthened to avoid “façadism or meaningless
preservation of fragments”.

The signatories include the Kamra tal-Periti, Din L-Art Ħelwa and Flimkien
Għal Ambjent Aħjar; the University of Malta architecture, conservation and art
history departments; local heritage groups like Wirt Għawdex, Wirt iż-Żejtun and Wirt San Ġwann; and specialist organisations such as the Cinema Heritage Group and Temple Rescue, among others.

Din L-Art Ħelwa executive president Maria Grazia Cassar said: “Rapid changes
are taking place, dramatically and irreversibly transforming the distinctive
architectural character, streetscape and skyline of our towns and villages, which
have evolved harmoniously over several generations, and which are now being
severely compromised and even at risk of being lost.

“We are now witnessing indiscriminate demolition of built and other cultural
assets, and a general impoverishment of the quality of our urban areas.”
Kamrta tal-Periti president Alex Torpiano said the government must take
concrete action to strengthen and protect the Constitution, which requires the
State to “safeguard the landscape and the historical and artistic patrimony of the
nation”.

Prof. Torpiano said the Chamber had met with culture minister Owen Bonnici,
who expressed his support for SCH to be put on par with the Environment and
Resources Authority (ERA) in terms of staffing and remit.
He added that the proposals would be presented to all parties and invited any
interested organisations to sign up to the declaration.

Our Legacy: proposals
• An inventory of assets scheduled or identified for scheduling, to be
administered under the Cultural Heritage Act and bind planning
decisions.
• Conservation experts and NGOs to be “actively and genuinely involved”
in policy making relating to planning.
• Status of UCAs and Grade 2 scheduling to be “urgently refined” to ensure
more effective protection rather than “façadism”.
• Special attention given to traditional skylines in terms of building heights.
• Blanket presumption against demolition of buildings and gardens, or the
additional of extra floors, in UCAs.
• Ratification of international cultural heritage conventions.
• Government to ensure developer-funded archaeological investigations
are fully published and recorded.
• Funds to be made available for investment in public infrastructure,
including pavements and street quality, especially in UCAs.
• Public Heritage Property Fund to allow the State to intervene and acquire
key properties of strategic cultural significance in exceptional
circumstances.