Government plan to give impetus to rubble wall building

A course on the traditional techniques of building rubble walls was expected to start next month, the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment, George Pullicino said.

Visiting the completion of the first phase of restoration works in Buskett on Saturday, Mr Pullicino said the government had already trained public works employees in the past but this course would be an opportunity for anyone who was interested.

Experts from the Building Industry Consultative Council, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, Limestone Heritage and the Architecture Students' Association (SACES) at the university, will work together to organise the course.

The minister said the course could enable Malta to set up a voluntary rubble wall organisation similar to one that exists in Britain.

"The idea is to commission the organisation to build and restore rubble walls against a nominal fee that will enable the organisation to go on. The course offers a good starting point for those interested in working independently," Mr Pullicino said.

Work in the area known as Il-Bosk involved removing large amounts of rubbish.

"A rather delicate process was choosing the gebel tas-sejjieh - stones that could be used to rebuild the 900 square metres of rubble walls completed during the first phase of the project."

Mr Pullicino said the workers had to look for the original foundations before reconstruction could start.

"The place was completely in ruins. A whole farm had been dismantled along the years. Unfortunately, some walls were often vandalised while they were being built."

The restoration plan of Buskett includes the rebuilding of old farms as well as a resource centre complete with a multimedia presentation on the origins of the area.

The minister said he wanted to set up a consultative committee for the running of Buskett, involving residents living in the area.

The government has applied for up to †850,000 from EU funds for rubble wall restoration schemes and wind shields.