Planning Authority approves restoration work on two 19th Century buildings

The Planning Commission has given green lights for two restoration projects involving the neo classical building housing the Zejtun Police Station and the west belfry of the Qala Parish Church.

The style of the building of the Zejtun Police Station is synonymous with public building architecture under the British Rule.

According to the Planning Authority, works on the facade, which is situated in Triq il-Madonna tal-Bon Kunsill, will include the removal of metal inserts, the replacement of deteriorating stones, eradicating biological colonisation, pointing, tidying of wires and the cleaning of all the walls.

A €12,000 bank guarantee was imposed to ensure that works do not impinge on the Grade 2 protected telephone box, which is a K6 model from the British period located right in front of the building.

The Planning Authority added that an existing ramp will be removed and replaced by a chair lift, following the Access for All guidelines.

Over the years, the belfry of the Qala Parish Church has started to lose its intrinsic decoration due to surface erosion and alveolar deterioration

Regarding the west belfry of the century-old Qala Parish Church, a protected Grade 1 building, the works will involve the removal of dark stains caused by plant growth and a substantial amount of cement which was applied to the belfry from previous interventions, the Planning Authority said.

Over the years, the church’s belfry has started to lose its intrinsic decoration due to surface erosion and alveolar deterioration.

The belfy’s clock will also be repainted and cleaned from extensive bird droppings.

The foundation stone of the Qala Parish in Gozo was laid on 19 March 1882 and the church was consecrated on 8 May 1904.