Qala council takes over abandoned fort

An agreement was signed yesterday for the handing over of St Anthony's Fort at Ras il-Qala to the Qala local council.

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said the council wanted to restore the abandoned fort and eventually use it to hold exhibitions and for other purposes.

St Anthony's Fort was built at the beginning of the 18th century by the Knights of Malta for coastal and sea defence. Built during the reign of Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena, it is believed to have been designed by French engineer Charles Francois Mondion between 1731 and 1732.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Borg said that when other sites in different localities were passed on to councils, they were revived. Councils managed to transform abandoned buildings which had been forgotten into a nest of cultural activities for the benefit of residents, other Maltese people and tourists.

These properties also meant an additional income for the councils, he added.

Thirty-eight councils had so far been given 52 public properties varying from public gardens and sports facilities to old buildings and underground structures.

The government, Dr Borg said, was to continue following this policy because it believed councils could give this property added value.