PRESS RELEASE TUESDAY 14th FEBRUARY 2006 third candle lit vigil that has been called for Wednesday 15th February 2006

February 15, 2006 at 2:46 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The demolition works above ground have started.  Against this background the South District Association is calling on its members and supporters throughout Gibraltar to attend a third candle lit vigil that has been called for Wednesday 15th February 2006 as from 7.30 pm outside the entrance to the Rosia Tanks.

There has been increased activity on the Rosia Tanks site since Friday afternoon of last week, when approximately 15 people held a meeting, we believe, to discuss the demolition.  Yesterday the outer perimeter walls were being demolished and today the SDA believes that the buildings above ground will be turned into rubble.  The next step will be to move underground and destroy these historic water tanks, that in their day could provide enough water for 18 months for 80 Royal Navy ships of the line.

It seems incredible that the Government continues to push ahead without giving any organisation both local or international the opportunity to discuss this issue with them.  Yesterday Mr Graham Watson, Liberal MEP for Gibraltar, who has also intervened on behalf of the campaign, reported in a interview on GBC Radio that he had not received a reply to his letter asking the Chief Minister to reconsider.  Europa Nostra, the Pan European Federation for Heritage, and others have also written but one wonders to what effect.

Undetered the SDA will continue its campaign until the last brick has been removed from the site.

The SDA, also, continues to have serious concerns in respect to Health and Safety issues that appear to have been addressed but only in a piecemeal fashion.  In particular, fears about asbestos being present on the site amongst residents have not been allayed and there is still serious concern regarding this matter.

The Association has had confirmation that there is asbestos present in No 3 building and that tests are being conducted on samples taken from the covering of the Rosia Tanks itself.  It is believed that the covering itself may contain asbestos.  The SDA are continuing to put their concerns regarding asbestos in writing to the Health and Safety Inspectors and are in the process of putting them on notice that it expects any removal of asbestos from the site to be managed in accordance with current health and safety regulations.

The\n Association cannot comprehend or understand the way that the Government has handled this matter and wants to state once again that it does not belief that this historic site has to be sacrificed to provide \’affordable\’ housing.  Affordable housing can be built elsewhere and the Water Tanks preserved and developed sensitively.

South District Association

“,1] ); //–>

The Association has had confirmation that there is asbestos present in No 3 building and that tests are being conducted on samples taken from the covering of the Rosia Tanks itself.  It is believed that the covering itself may contain asbestos.  The SDA are continuing to put their concerns regarding asbestos in writing to the Health and Safety Inspectors and are in the process of putting them on notice that it expects any removal of asbestos from the site to be managed in accordance with current health and safety regulations.

The Association cannot comprehend or understand the way that the Government has handled this matter and wants to state once again that it does not belief that this historic site has to be sacrificed to provide ‘affordable’ housing.  Affordable housing can be built elsewhere and the Water Tanks preserved and developed sensitively.

South District Association