Corradino at vandals' mercy

The fitillacca tree which for ages dominated the vicinity of what is now the Pavilion Sports Complex at Corradino, Paola, has been the target of vandals lately. Unknown persons have reduced the 150-year-old tree to a charred skeleton after having set it on fire during the weekend.

The vast Corradino area holds a concentration of sport facilities including the Hibernians Football Ground, the Paola Hibernians Football Nursery, hockey pitches, the Sports Pavilion and two tennis clubs: the VLTC and the TCK. In addition, the area also hosts The Corradino Fire Station, the Chinese Acupuncture Centre as well as a number of public buildings and factories. It is easy to understand that this locality draws to it hundreds of sport enthusiasts each week as well as scores of others who make use of other services.

Letters have recently appeared in the press lamenting the way parts of Corradino have been totally abandoned. The locality has gradually been reduced to an eyesore of deserted, dilapidated factories, rubbish dumps and junk yards. Poorly lit at night, the area is an attraction to undesirables who abuse and vandalise at will. To make matters worse, we are now also witnessing the allegedly illegal erection of shoddy buildings, adding to the shabby appearance of the place.

It is a pity that this locality, once the favourite recreational grounds of the British Naval Forces until their departure in 1979 has been left to deteriorate to such a pitiful and disgraceful state due to the apparently nonchalant attitude of the authorities.