The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has raised no objections to the destruction of a World War II pillbox in San Ġwann to make way for a new apartment block. Heritage NGOs, the San Ġwann local council and residents have all been vocal in their calls for the "first-rate" wartime defence post in Sir Emvin Cremona Street to be conserved and scheduled, citing its historical and heritage importance. However, in its reply when consulted by the Planning Authority, the SCH said it had visited the site and found the structure to be in a "dilapidated and unstable condition". "The vernacular structure/pillbox is not of such cultural heritage value as to warrant its preservation," it said, raising no objection to the application. According to Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, which is among a sizeable list of objectors to the development, the pillbox was built by Royal Engineers early in the war as part of the third line of defence from the coast. All such posts were designed as bomb-proof stand-alone structures meant to resist capture if caught in an air drop zone during an invasion. They were intended to act in unison with other structures to stop or slow an enemy advance or direct it to a...
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