The Central Link Project, an extensive roadworks project, has been opposed by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, and now, chapel custodian and historian Reno Saliba joins the cultural watchdog in an appeal to reroute the project to save the recently restored chapel and rural environment around it.

The Central Link road project will replace a number of farm buildings which could, in turn, threaten the St Paul Shipwreck chapel in Attard, which was only restored 11 years ago with the help of voluntary workers and professionals in the field.

Mr Saliba was asked by the then parish priest to take care of the chapel in 2004 - at a time in which it was in a highly dilapidated state. Restoration works came and went, and the chapel was restored. However, shortly after its completion, cracks in the walls began to emerge.

“In the past years these cracks have been increasing, and we asked a professional company to monitor the work,” he said in an interview with MaltaToday.  He also remarked that “further studies confirmed movements on the sides of the church, and works are now needed to stabilise the chapel.” For this reason, roadworks in this area will further threaten the chapel structure, possibly even destroying it due to its instability.

Mr Saliba describes this Maltese jewel as one of great value, forming part of one of the oldest areas in the locality. He also described the creation of a wide road (as the project proposes) next to this typical Maltese wayside chapel as “putting an old person in the middle of Paceville, where he would look awkward and strange.”

What do you think?