Save the old railway track

MALTATODAY NEWS | Sunday, 20 July 2008

Save the old railway track

James Debono

Green Party councillor Ralph Cassar is spearheading a campaign to save one of Malta’s last relics of industrial architecture – the railway embankment and surviving track in Triq il-Linja, behind the Corinthia gardens in Attard.

Parts of the railway are literally falling apart, Cassar complained to MaltaToday at the site of the embankment.

According to historian Henry Frendo, between 1883 and 1931 Attard was a pivotal communication centre, being the only place in Malta with no fewer than three railway stations: one near Sant’ Anton close to Balzan, another up the road in what is now “Gnien l-Istazzjon”, and another further up in Tas-Salvatur on the way to Rabat.

The heritage authorities are aware of the state of this relic of Malta’s transport history.

In 2007 former vice-mayor Charlo Bonnici met the superintendent for cultural heritage, saying that he was aware of the problem.

The council also alerted the Works Division. But while two officials from the division carried out a site inspection, no action was taken.

Cassar suggests it would be a good idea to ‘devolve’ the embankment to the local council, but due to the extent of the damage and length of the embankment the expense to restore it would cost thousands of euros, something which a local council on its own cannot really afford.

“It would be a shame to let this unique piece of industrial architecture deteriorate. I appeal for urgent funding to at least stop the deterioration – I appeal for the superintendent of cultural heritage to put more pressure for something to be done soon,” Cassar said.

AD – progressivi u ekologisti

AD Executive with former Chairperson Dr. Vassallo, originally uploaded by Alternattiva Demokratika.

Bhal dejjem lesti ghall-hidma … favurik, favur politka progressiva, favur politka ekologista, favur il-generazzjonijiet tal-lum u t’ghada, favur pajjizna.

U-turns galore

Haga li tiskantani hija kif l-ewwel il-gvern ifajjarha: korsa tal-golf ‘l hemm u ‘l hawn, il-politika tal-MEPA (deciza mill-Gvern), it-taxxa fuq l-ivjaggar, li ma ssirx liberalizazzjoni fit-trasport… kollha u-turns ‘Gonzjani’… u minn fuq Gonzi jipprova jiehu l-mertu…

Dan kollu juri li l-politika tan-Nazzjonalisti m’hi ibbazata fuq l-ebda principji jew direzzjoni partikolari… politika tad-demokrazijakristjana Taljana: qabbel fejn jaqbillek ghax l-ewwel il-poter… ipprova kun kollox ghal kulhadd u dur dur dur qiesek pinnur. Tibzax in-nies jinsew.

Divorzju a la Maltija

AD ilha titkellem fuq il-bzonn, sofrtunat kemm trid, tad-divorzju li jinghata mill-qrati Maltin. Il-partiti l-ohra dejjem zammew lura. Il-PN ghal ragunijiet ovvji (il-konservatizmu tal-bazi tal-partit u l-isforz kontinwu biex il-PN jidher bhala d-difensur tar-religjon). L-MLP biex jevita attakki mill-‘moralisti’ kien jevita s-suggett bhal bard ta’ Jannar. L-argumenti li taghmel l-AD huma semplici. Kif tista’ iggieghel zewg persuni maturi u li ghandhim l-eta taghhom jibqghu ‘mizzewgin’? Kif jista’ l-istat jaghlaq ghajnejh ghar-realtajiet ta’ madwarna u ma jaghtix soluzzjoni legali lil persuni adulti li jhossu li ma jistghux jghixu aktar flimkien?

Wara li x’aktarx il-PM Gonzi sab ruhu daru mal-hajt wara dikjarazzjoni ta’ John Dalli fil-gazzetti qal li ghandha tinfetah id-diskussjoni dwar is-suggett. X’aktarx hija mossa biex jibqa’ kollox l-istess u sa hames snin ohra inkunu ghadna qed ‘niddiskutu’. Id-dikjarazzjoni ta’ Dalli giet wara li l-Mexxej ta’ l-MLP adotta il-pozizzjoni ta’ AD dwar id-divorzju. Id-differenza hi li AD b’membru fil-parlament kienet tressaq abbozz li jemenda l-ligi taz-zwieg mill-ewwel ghal vot fil-parlament.

L-MLP imissu jressaq ‘private members bill’ fil-parlament – li tghid li int fl-oppozizzjoni u ma tista’ taghmel xejn huwa veru biss sa certu punt – pass bhal dan ipoggi l-issue dritt fl-organu legislattiv ta’ pajjizna – imbaghad verament kull membru parlamentari jkollu jiehu pozizzjoni fil-pubbliku.

Attard council opposes development behind Villa Bologna

Thursday, 10th July 2008 – 18:45CET

Attard local council has voted unanimously in favour of a motion calling for an open space behind historic Villa Bologna not to be developed.

AD said the motion was moved by Ralph Cassar, an AD councillor, and backed by the PN and MLP councillors.

Mr Cassar moved the motion following information that a decision was about to be taken by MEPA on an application for the development of the area behind Villa Bologna.

The motion was based on two main reasons: that this area of Attard is already densely developed and new building would hide the decorated wall of Villa Bologna.

The council is to inform MEPA of its decision.

http://www.timesofmalta.com.mt/articles/view/20080710/local/attard-council-opposes-development-behind-villa-bologna/

No condoms please … we’re Nationalists

‘In 1999, government requested experts to draw up a national sexual health policy. Nine years later, the umpteenth attempt has been sabotaged by the health department’s resistance to one word: CONDOM’

‘Amanda Ciappara [Ministry for Health spokesperson] outlined the minister’s position that “condoms are not necessarily the answer”.’

In the meantime… the incidence of STDs continues to rise dramatically.

( story from Malta Today midweek 9/7/2008 www.maltatoday.com.mt )

When is the government going to stop playing holier-than-thou and stop this silly and ignorant charade? 9 years to draw up a policy because of ONE word! As usual the Nationalists play holier-than-thou not to scare away the ultra-conservative moralisers in their midst.

How sad… Vision 2015 indeed!