Two councils and the environment

I have drawn the attention over the phone of both Sliema and Gzira councils to a certain neglect in some strategic areas, especially where embellishment and upkeep are concerned. But next to nothing has been done about it.

One cannot help noticing that on the centre strip near the Waterfront Hotel there are several oleander shrubs missing from the otherwise nice row of flowering bushes along the way.

This has been so since last winter. Whoever laid them never went back to have a second look, it seems. But surely there has to be someone to whom the 'contractor' is directly responsible on either council.

There are at least ten trees missing along the first part of the pedestrian thoroughfare going towards the Waterfront Hotel.

In Sliema, the plants in the large pots on one side of Annunciation Square only seem to get some water if it rains. The flowers are on their deathbed too but they were originally placed there to embellish this popular square. There are other large stone pots at one point of High Street, Sliema (corner with Ghar il-Lembi) the contents of which are 'clinically dead'. Yet indeed, some wise soul (not the contractor, again?) pruned them, rather than plant a whole new set of shrubs and flowers! Should not Sliema council do something about it?

The latest 'joke' in Sliema is the series of big white concrete containers set up all along both sides of Dingli Street, on the pavements. Apart from being hardly attractive, these were planted all with small fir trees, looking really gaunt and out of place in this premier city centre. They needed to find some other suitable small tree or shrub that really does justice to the concept itself.

Gzira council had a very good idea of planting flowers on the centre strip like Sliema council had done. But alas! They were placed in shallow soil and are all but 'going' now. So ideally they need to raise the level of the kerbs encasing the centre strip, adding more soil. Just as Sliema council did.

Incidentally, I would like to thank Sliema council for planting greenery and flowers in front of the many coffee-shops on the seafront facing Valletta. But these need more colour and attendance of green wardens to ensure that they do not become dustbins for passersby.