Moviment Graffitti welcomes the news that the British Barracks at Fort Chambray have been selected by Europa Nostra as one of the seven most endangered heritage sites across Europe, and therefore as a site that merits protection. The British Barracks at Fort Chambray are currently under threat of demolition to make way for a large-scale development of apartment blocks and an aparthotel — a project that would completely undermine the historic integrity of Fort Chambray, which dates back to the time of the Knights.

In light of this European-level recognition, achieved through the collective effort led by Din l-Art Ħelwa and Din l-Art Ħelwa – Għawdex, the Maltese Government must shoulder its responsibility and grant the British Barracks at Fort Chambray the protection they deserve. The irregular permits issued by the Planning Authority, which are currently under appeal before the EPRT, must be revoked immediately as they run counter to every principle of cultural heritage protection. Recognition by Europa Nostra further strengthens the call for this historic building, and Fort Chambray itself, to be safeguarded from any insensitive development. It is wholly unjust that the people of Gozo and Malta are being deprived of the enjoyment of their heritage, while at the same time being expected to finance, through their taxes, the “restoration” of the Fort simply to facilitate a private development project.

Moviment Graffitti reiterates its call for the Emergency Conservation Order requested in 2025 by a coalition of organisations — supported by the Għajnsielem Local Council and signed by hundreds of citizens — to be upheld, and for the process to begin for the scheduling of the British Barracks. These barracks are the only building of their kind in Gozo and are among the earliest, and possibly even the first example of married quarters in the British Empire. The building was constructed entirely in Globigerina Limestone by the same master mason who was entrusted with the construction of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, and research shows that the building dates back to at least 1895.

The request to schedule the Barracks, however, has consistently been ignored. The fact that the majority of British-era barracks buildings in Malta have been scheduled makes the failure to protect these barracks inexplicable. All the historic elements and buildings within Fort Chambray were scheduled in 2005, yet the scheduling of the British Barracks was left pending. It is evident that this was done to allow for their demolition in order to facilitate the development of Fort Chambray into a residential and commercial complex. Claims that the British Barracks will simply be relocated are misleading: according to the contract, there is no obligation for the building to be preserved or relocated, and there is no guarantee that any part of the original structure will be reconstructed.

The permits issued by the Planning Authority, which allow for the demolition and dismantling of the British Barracks to accommodate large-scale development, clearly contradict the Existing Buildings Retention Policy within the Fort Chambray Development Brief, which states that the Barracks, together with all other historic sites within Fort Chambray, may not be demolished but must instead be restored and conserved.

Despite misleading statements that the Barracks are in a poor state of repair and have undergone various alterations from their original structure, the building remains in very good condition and offers strong potential to be restored and sustainably transformed into a site that gives something back to the community.

Fort Chambray, and the historic sites contained within it, deserve protection from any insensitive development. Our historic heritage must take precedence over private profit.

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Il-Barracks tal-Forti Chambray rikonoxxuta fuq livell Ewropew bħala wieħed mill-aktar siti mhedda – ipproteġuhom issa!

Il-Moviment Graffitti jilqa’ l-aħbar li l-Barracks Ingliżi tal-Forti Chambray ġew magħżula mill-Europa Nostra bħala wieħed mis-7 siti madwar l-Ewropa li jinsabu l-aktar fil-periklu, u li għalhekk jistħoqqilhom jiġu protetti. Il-Barracks Ingliżi fil-Forti Chambray bħalissa jinsabu mhedda li jiġu mkissra biex jagħmlu spazju għal żvilupp massiċċ ta’ blokok ta’ appartamenti u aparthotel, liema żvilupp se jkun qed kompletament jeqred l-integrità storika tal-Forti Chambray, li jmur lura għal żmien il-Kavallieri.

Fid-dawl ta’ dan ir-rikonoxximent fuq livell Ewropew, grazzi għall-isforz kollettiv immexxi minn Din l-Art Ħelwa u Din l-Art Ħelwa – Għawdex, il-Gvern Malti jeħtieġ li jerfa’ r-responsabbiltà u jagħti l-protezzjoni mistħoqqa lill-Barracks tal-Ingliżi fil-Forti Chambray, binja li tmur lura għall-aħħar tas-seklu 19. Il-permessi irregolari li ħarġet l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar, u li bħalissa qegħdin jiġu appellati quddiem l-EPRT, jeħtieġ li jiġu mħassra minnufih għax imorru kontra kull prinċipju ta’ ħarsien tal-patrimonju kulturali.

Ir-rikonoxximent mill-Europa Nostra jkompli jsaħħaħ l-għajta biex din il-binja storika, u biex il-Forti Chambray innifsu, jiġu mħarsa minn kwalunkwe żvilupp insensittiv. Huwa totalment inġust li l-poplu Għawdxi u Malti qed jiġi mċaħħad milli jgawdi l-wirt storiku tiegħu, u fl-istess waqt se jkun qed jiffinanzja mit-taxxi tiegħu r-“restawr” tal-Forti sempliċiment biex iseħħ proġett ta’ żvilupp privat.

Il-Moviment Graffitti jtenni t-talba tiegħu li tiġi milqugħa t-talba għal Ordni ta’ Konservazzjoni ta’ Emerġenza ppreżentata fl-2025 minn koalizzjoni ta’ għaqdiet, appoġġjata mill-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Għajnsielem u ffirmata minn mijiet ta’ ċittadini, u biex jinbeda l-proċess sabiex il-Barracks tal-Ingliżi jiġu skedati. Dawn il-barracks huma l-unika binja ta’ dan it-tip f’Għawdex, u huma fost l-ewwel, jew anki possibbilment l-ewwel, eżempju ta’ kwartieri tal-miżżewġin fl-Imperu Ingliż. Il-binja tal-barracks kienet inbniet bil-ġebla Maltija mill-istess bennej li bena l-Bażilika Ta’ Pinu, u r-riċerka turi li l-binja tmur lura għal mill-inqas is-sena 1895.

It-talba għall-iskedar tal-Barracks, iżda, dejjem ġiet injorata. Il-fatt li l-maġġoranza tal-binjiet tal-barracks ta’ żmien l-Ingliżi f’Malta ġew skedati jagħmel in-nuqqas li dawn il-barracks jiġu protetti inspjegabbli. L-elementi u l-binjiet storiċi kollha fi ħdan il-Forti Chambray kienu ġew skedati lura fis-sena 2005, iżda l-iskedar tal-Barracks tal-Ingliżi tħalla pendenti. Huwa evidenti li dan sar biex il-Barracks ikunu jistgħu jiġu mwaqqgħa sabiex jiġi aġevolat l-iżvilupp tal-Forti Chambray f’kumpless residenzjali u kummerċjali. Stqarrijiet li l-Barracks tal-Ingliżi se jiġu biss rilokati huma qarrieqa: skont il-kuntratt, m’hemm l-ebda obbligu biex il-binja tiġi ppreservata jew rilokata, u m’hemm l-ebda garanzija li xi parti mill-istruttura oriġinali se terġa’ tinbena mill-ġdid.

Il-permessi maħruġa mill-PA, li jippermettu t-twaqqigħ u t-tkissir tal-Barracks tal-Ingliżi biex jiġi akkomodat żvilupp massiċċ, ċarament imorru kontra l-Existing Buildings Retention Policy tad-Development Brief tal-Forti Chambray, li tgħid li l-Barracks, flimkien mas-siti storiċi l-oħra kollha fi ħdan il-Forti Chambray ma jistgħux jiġu mwaqqgħa, iżda għandhom jiġu rrestawrati u kkonservati.

Minkejja dikjarazzjonijiet qarrieqa li l-Barracks jinsabu fi stat ħażin, u li sarulhom diversi modifiki mill-istruttura oriġinali tagħhom, il-Barracks għadhom fi stat tajjeb ħafna u joffru potenzjal li jiġu rrestawrati u ttrasformati b’mod sostenibbli f’sit li joffri xi ħaġa lura lill-komunità.

Il-Forti Chambray, u s-siti storiċi li jilqa’ fi ħdanu, jistħoqqlu jiġi protett minn kwalunkwe żvilupp insensittiv. Il-wirt storiku tagħna għandu jiġi qabel kull profitt privat.