Where have all the pebbles gone?

The Żebbuġ (Gozo) local council have finally woken up and noticed the sheer drop of at least a metre that appeared from the bottom step of the stairs leading from the road onto the beach at Qbajjar Bay.

What was the cause? A phantom tsunami?

No. Rather, a beach cleaning job, allowed to go berserk. A thorough bulldozing session or two, and a metre's depth of sparkling pebbles, nature's work of centuries, gone forever. What this has left us with is a dirt surface for a beach, at almost below sea level, which hardly anyone goes to any more. And, of course, a half dozen extra steps, nicely finished in concrete, the council's blessing for a job well done.

One can also notice the exposed roots of the last remaining solitary tree, so sought after for its shade. It's supposed to be protected but, like the rest of them, will it now go the same way as the pebbles?

Criminal or what?'