MEPA gives go-ahead to revised Barrakka lift plans

Back in April, Transport Minister Austin Gatt had blamed the planning watchdog for delaying the Barrakka lift project, saying four different designs had been submitted to satisfy demands made by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

But a recently published case officer report reveals that both the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the Superintendence for Fortifications had raised concerns on the visual impact of the lift on the bastions.

But the Heritage watchdogs changes their views after the drawings were amended to accommodate their concerns.

According to the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, the latest plans have resulted in “a more slender solution, as compared to the earlier design, that lessens the visual

impact of the lift tower and the use of a cladding mesh in a lighter gauge, intended to increase visual permeability”.

While the original proposal envisaged a metallic structure that widened at the top like a blossom, merging into the Barrakka garden arches, the latest plans show a leaner concrete tower of uniform width linked to the Barrakka by a bridge.

In view of these changes the MEPA case officer is recommending the approval of the project in his report on the basis of which the MEPA board is expected to decide.

The older lift, which was opened to the public in 1824, fell into disuse in 1972 due to  a decrease in the number of visitors to the port, and the cessation of operations of the harbour ferries.

However with the launch of the Valletta Cruise Liner Terminal Project at the end of 2001, the requirement and market for a quick connection to Valletta was again created.

The reintroduction of the harbour ferries will increase demand for the lift. At present, the only ways for visiting cruise liner tourists to get to Valletta is either by taxi or bus, or through a steep uphill walk up Crucifix Hill, followed by almost one hundred steps and a further uphill walk along Triq Girolmu Cassar or via the Victoria Gate,

The 58-metre high lift will have a handling capacity of 75 passengers every five minutes and 800 passengers per hour.

The lift will have two panoramic passenger cars arranged side by side alongside the bastion wall.

A third passenger car was removed from the latest designs, to allow for a much reduced visual impact when the area is viewed from either Triq Girolmu Cassar or from the Harbour, especially from Dockyard Creek.

The reduced depth of the structure will allow for views through the ditch and has a reduced visual impact of the structure. The structure will be made of concrete with an aluminum mesh screen.

The building just below Triq Girolmu Cassar, currently occupied by the National Statistics Office will be demolished and Xatt ta’Lascaris will be landscaped with a water fountain.

Prior to any works commence on site, a bank guarantee for €50,000 is to be deposited in favour of MEPA. This amount shall only be released only after MEPA has carried out a final on-site inspection to ensure that works have been carried out totally in line with the terms and conditions of this permit and the approved drawings.

The applicant shall also engage an independent and qualified archaeologist registered with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage to carry out all the archaeological monitoring at the expense of the applicant.