Repair and restoration of Fort Chambray

Antonia Muscat expressed concern about the situation at the important site of Fort Chambray (December 31). Some comments are obviously made without knowledge of the real issues, particularly when considering the recent history of the site.

The original project started in the early 1990s but effectively came to a halt by the end of the millennium. The current owners took over the project in 2005 and, with great determination, resolved the many financial problems that had accumulated and got the project moving again. Many of the problems referred to in Ms Muscat's letter, such as the authorised removal of the tombstones, date back to the situation as existing earlier to 2005. Other problems are much more serious, and are not resolved by mere cleaning and removal of vegetation.

The cracks in the unique elliptical Polverista' on the Guardian Angel Bastion at Fort Chambray are not limited to this location, but run parallel to the west curtain wall up to St Anthony's Bastion and the Dar tat-Tabib. The cracks have not been caused by neglect but by the problems of the underlying geology, problems that were even identified by the original builders of what was meant to be a fortified city (and not a fort). The problems are similar to those present at the edges of, for example, Mdina and the Cittadella, and require very complex engineering interventions to resolve. The undersigned, who were commissioned as engineers and architects for the project in 2006, have submitted a methodology for a proposed intervention to the relative authorities, based on similar interventions that were prototyped for the Mdina bastions, and when all the necessary and related approvals are obtained, these works will be carried out. The tunnel/sally port, which is referred to in the letter, has actually been uncovered recently and will be restored and repaired as part of the above interventions.

Similar problems, albeit on a smaller scale, beset the guardroom which is also referred to in the letter. However, the "patch of cement render" on the wall near the gate is anything but cement render. This was the site of a major collapse of weathered rock, also related to the same geological problems, which was first reported to the authorities in March 2008. Unfortunately, it did take a whole year, and further collapses in January last year, before we were authorised to carry out emergency repairs.

The repairs consisted of piles driven into the ground in the ditch, to create a reinforced "shelf" to carry the crack rock face, underlying the bastion walls, and a programme of rock anchors to hold the remaining, and crumbling, rock mass in place. The "lost" rock volume was replaced, in the first instance, by mass concrete, which is what is currently visible. A similar intervention was also carried out in an area close to the car-park entrance, where, in this case, we managed to forestall any rock collapse.

These emergency interventions were designed only to prevent the wholesale collapse of the masonry above. The full restoration project, which will eventually "disguise" the concreted area, will be carried out together with the restoration of the main gate, and the external approach. The site is certainly not free of official scrutiny, as can be seen from the very detailed consideration that is given to any submittals for approvals. The application for interventions on the external vehicular and pedestrian approach area, the masonry bridge and ancillary landscaping was submitted for approval in March 2008, and only approved last October.

It is certainly not true to say that the site has been neglected. Since the new ownership took over, Phase 1, which included works to consolidate and repair the east bastions, was completely finished, and can be visited in all its glory. Phase 2, which also includes works to consolidate the south edge, is nearing completion. A total of ca. 620m of bastion perimeter have been restored, including cleaning, stone replacement and re-pointing of ca. 3000m of walling. The planning applications for Phase 3, which includes works on the west side, and the proposed hotel, were submitted in March 2007, and approval is hopefully expected early this year. In the mean time, work is proceeding on the preparation of the restoration project for the Knights' Barracks.

The delays in restoring the beautiful site of Fort Chambray are obviously regretted but they have certainly not been caused by the current ownership. The amount of money spent on restoration works already exceeds the obligations of the lease and further large sums of money will be needed to achieve the desired product. The public may not be aware of all the issues and problems, and all the sources of delay; but, frankly, expressions of disgust are uncalled for.