A project by the St Paul's Bay council to replace trees along the promenade from the area known as Tal-Veccia to the roundabout near the Pwales has become subject of controversy between some residents and the same council.
A resident, Oliver Agius told The Times that trees presently planted on the site, which include palm trees, are to be uprooted to be replaced by olive trees that were unsuitable for the area.
Mayor Paul Bugeja confirmed it is the policy of the council to plant indigenous trees in the locality and that the council has applied with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to remove the existing trees and replace them with olive trees.
In fact, Mr Bugeja said, the council has already removed two palm trees which were planted some time ago and which had failed to grow in size.
Mr Agius said it is felt that olive trees were not suitable for the area. Palm trees are more resistant to bad weather than olive trees especially in this spot which is exposed to north easterly wind and the sea, at times rather rough, he added.
At present the council is engaged on a project to embellish the Xemxija Bay promenade. The present phase of work is the new railing and the pavement.
Mr Agius said that if not picked when they are ripe, the mature olives will rot and will create a mess when they fall to the ground. The eventual uprooting of the old trees to plant the new ones will also damage the pavements which have already been laid.
Defending the council's decision, Mr Bugeja said the council wanted to ensure uniformity since trees at the promenade are of different species including tamarisks and palm trees, apart from being of different sizes. Some of the trees have had branches broken and many of the spaces where trees can be planted are empty.
"I cannot leave the trees in that state because they are unsightly. Even the palm trees were of a different species," Mr Bugeja said. There are about 100 trees in all.
He said he had written to the agriculture department to supply him with the olive trees and in the meantime he is waiting for a permit from MEPA. Some of the tamarisk trees were planted in the early 1960s and, therefore, a MEPA permit was required to remove them.
Mr Bugeja said most of the palm trees had been planted by the council. The two palm trees planted by an individual and which were removed have been replanted in a public yard at the housing estate in Qawra.