€1.6 million embellishment works at Castille Square to be completed by October

October deadline for €1.6 million embellishment works at Castille Square

The €1.6 million embellishment works at Castille Square outside the Office of the Prime Minister will be completed by the end of October, just before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November.

Addressing a press briefing at Castille Hotel, principal permanent secretary Mario Cutajar and GHRC chairman Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said the square in front of Auberge de Castille will be pedestrianized while allowing access through St Paul’s Street.

“Castille Square right now is essentially an artery for Valletta, with no open space for the public. We will be bringing it to its original form, accentuating the façade of Auberge de Castille,” Cutajar said, adding that the present parking area next to the Central Bank will be retained.

The plan, although the location has not yet been decided, is to relocate monuments of former prime minister to Castille Square. Manwel Dimech’s monument will be relocated closer to St James Cavalier while Borg Olivier’s monument will be closer to the Stock Exchange.

Cutajar said consultations were held with Valletta operators, GRTU, tourist guides and other stakeholders in order to ensure the least possible disruption to Valletta whilst works are ongoing.

The project is being coordinated by the GHRC and Transport Malta. Zrinzo Azzopardi said a balance had to be reached between traffic and pedestrian managements.

“We will be operating under a tight timeline due to the CHOGM conference,” he added.

The embellishment works envisage the removal of the roundabout and relocation of trees on the sides. Environment NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) took part in talks as advice was sought on the transplantation of the trees.