WATCH | Marsaskala residents demand answers on demolition of arches beneath promenade

Updated with Infrastructure Malta statement 

The Marsaskala Residents’ Network has condemned ongoing demolition works beneath the Triq is-Salini promenade, saying the activity is being carried out without the necessary planning permission.

In a reaction on Wednesday evening, Infrastructure Malta insisted the works were being carried out in line with a granted permit.

“The intervention being carried out has a single purpose: to remove the danger to the public and to provide the promenade with a safe and stable structure,” it said.

The state agency said arches will be rebuilt from the quay level on stronger foundations rising directly from the bedrock, ensuring that the new structure is constructed on solid ground and a firm base. The arches will be reconstructed in the same style as the original ones, in order to preserve as much as possible their architectural character as well as that of Marsaskala.

“Over the years, the arches suffered extensive deterioration, leaving them in a neglected and dilapidated state. The structure of the arches had become dangerous to public safety, and therefore, in recent months, these same arches were supported with temporary reinforcements to eliminate any immediate risk until reconstruction works could begin,” it said.

Earlier, the group said the works appear linked to permit application for a proposed ferry landing in the bay, which is still under review.

It stressed the application does not authorise the destruction of the distinctive arches that characterise the area.

In a statement, the network described the demolition as a “blatant disregard for due process, the public interest and the character of our town.”

It said the section known locally as ‘Taħt l-Arkati’ is a defining feature of Marsaskala’s heritage and coastal identity, and that its destruction amounts to the erasure of part of the town’s memory and uniqueness.

The residents said that proceeding with works while the permit remains unresolved “constitutes a form of institutional bullying,” adding that political authority does not provide “carte blanche to bulldoze over residents’ rights, our history and our seaside.”

The group called for an immediate halt to all demolition beneath the promenade until the planning process is completed transparently and subjected to public scrutiny.

It also urged the authorities to publish all relevant documentation, including environmental impact assessments, heritage or archaeological studies, structural reports and full project plans, arguing that residents must be able to review and comment meaningfully.

The network insisted proper public consultation is essential and criticised what it described as cosmetic information sessions that fail to address residents’ concerns.

It argued Marsaskala’s identity, heritage and environment must be safeguarded, warning that once such features are lost, they cannot be restored.

The organisation said authorities must stop treating Marsaskala “as a blank slate for development at any cost,” adding that holding office does not give decision-makers the right to override local communities.

“We will not stand idle while our heritage and living environment are destroyed,” it said.

Questions have been sent to Infrastructure Malta.