No more rubble walls along Victoria Lines

The rubble walls along the historic Victoria Lines in Dwejra, limits of Rabat, are no more. They have gradually been pulled down over the years. The entrance to the Scrap Gallery also is blocked by stones from vandals. Tourists cannot get inside.

The Dwejra road is in an appalling state and I pity commuters and the many farmers in this area who have to take their daily produce to Ta' Qali. The place is filthy and in a mess, with dead trees, mattresses and other rubbish littering the place.

I have reported this sad situation to the authorities and to Rabat Local Council many a time but nothing has ever been done. We have suffered the total loss of this tourist attraction for over 30 years. One cannot drive or walk.

How do we expect tourists to visit? This is a historical tourist area. There are books and other literature on the Victoria Lines and country walks at Dwejra but thanks to the authorities one hardly ever sees a tourist here.

As German tourists have told us: "You advertise your country under false pretences."

Unfortunately, at the time of writing there is a Planning Authority notice stuck on the Boy Scouts wall relating to the intention to install a telecommunications hub on a 50-metre antenna consisting of three-4.5-metre dishes. If this were to be approved, it would have a serious impact on this ecologically sensitive site.

Very recently MEPA scheduled the area as a countryside walk and is promoting it to tourists as a Grade 1 location; so has the Malta Tourist Authority. It would not make sense to promote the area for its scenic value and then accept such a proposal.

Developments of this nature should be prohibited, especially in areas of scenic value.

All the people in this area are preparing a signed petition against this proposal. There is no discipline or education.