Once a beautiful fortress laying on Ras it-Tafal in Gozo’s Għajnsielem, Fort Chambray’s restoration seems to have been long forgotten.

And that’s not all – it appears that the fort’s grounds are now being used as a dumping zone, with a horrific amount of trash littering the area.

Three years ago, Lovin Malta had reported on the pitiful state that the fort had been left in, as the stones holding up the structure crumbled to pieces.

Lovin Malta felt it should revisit the area, and went on-site to investigate its current state, finding mountains of rubbish within the fort, in front of the British barracks.

From refrigerators to construction waste, the fort is barely recognisable. 

Developer Michael Caruana, on behalf of Joseph Caruana Company Limited, had applied for a permit to dismantle the present British barracks as part of phase three of the project, however, this is nowhere in sight.

According to permit PA/02454/16, which outlined the plans in place to dismantle the British barracks, the screening process has still not been concluded over nine years later. 

As outlined on the Inside Homes website, a real estate company that is advertising the sale of the planned dwellings within Fort Chambray, an explanation was given of all phases of the project.

It is claimed that the entire project aims to blend history and contemporaneity into one, promising to maintain the restored fort as a backdrop which effectively highlights the modern facilities within the residential area.

Phase one then involved the construction of a number of villas and maisonettes, totalling 74 in all. 

Phase two then included 64 two-bedroom single units, whilst 21 are two or three-bedroom duplex units.

Phase three is the one which completes the entire project of Fort Chambray. This will involve the restoration of the Knights’ antique barracks and the Polverista where arms and ammunition used to be stored.

It remains to be seen whether authorities will take action over the issue, having effectively ignored the worrying state of the iconic fort for the last few years.

What do you make of the state of Fort Chambray?