Edith Rizzo, San Ġwann
View blocked along Buġibba promenade
What makes the Qawra/Buġibba promenade attractive to many Maltese and tourists is the panoramic view of the sea and its outlying shores which extend up to Selmun and the eastern coast of Gozo.
But alas, for a long stretch of the promenade the view of the sea is obstructed by the number of wild trees which take up the area between the promenade and the seashore. To those who are strolling along the promenade or are sitting on one of the benches to relax, these trees are not seen as an embellishment of the landscape. Replacing these trees by a garden on similar lines to the one on the Sliema front would provide an unobstructed view of the sea and a much better dress-up to the landscape of this promenade.
While at it, I would like to make a point about the bad structure of the benches. I am sure that the maker of these benches was never assigned to design an ergonomic chair.
Judged by the degree of comfort these benches afford to those who sit on them, he/she would have scored very low marks. To those suffering from backaches theses benches tend to make the pain worse, whereas to others they may be a source of back pain. In order to ease the pain, some locals carry a cushion with them to lay it behind their back while sitting on one of these benches. Is it possible to make some alterations to make them more comfortable?
Having an unobstructed view of the sea lapping St Paul's islets, the shores beneath Selmun and the eastern coast of Gozo while relaxing on a comfortable bench or while strolling along the promenade, would go a long way in blunting the vulgarities of the kitsch for which Buġibba has become renowned.
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TONY C CUTAJAR
Aug 11th 2009, 14:20
Leave the trees alone. We need more of them everywhere. But those palm trees need to be cleaned of the old dry leaves in a very regular way. Some have not been seen to yet.
The benches certainly are very uncomfortable. Whoever designed them should try to sit on one of them just for half an hour.
When is the upgrading going to start? Beyond the railings is nothing but a big mess. Let's continue to beautify Malta.
Ray Sultana
Aug 10th 2009, 16:07
Why not replace the trees with some more concrete? After all concrete is more aesthetically pleasing, soaks up more of the fumes that our buses belch out than trees do, is more environmentally friendly and of course attacts a lot more toursits to Malta. After all, who would want to visit a country where there are lots of trees and beautiful gardens, toursits want to see concrete!
I visit the Riviera del Levante in the Liguria region of Italy every summer. There, every building is surrounded by a garden, and the hills, train stations, streets and promenades are full of trees. Strangely enough it is always packed with tourists. On the otherhand in 'Malta sabiha', with at least one concrete eyesore in every street and VERY few trees in sight, there are no tourists, strange indeed!
Instead of trying to find every conceivable excuse to chop down the few trees that we have left, we should realise that trees improve our quality of life, enhance the environment, improve the air quality and mask up some of the concrete monstrosities that we have created.
Charles Micallef
Aug 10th 2009, 12:39
It is to refreshing to note that we now have a Member of Parliament namely the Hon C. Galea who has recently been making his business to answer every letter appertaining to the number of complaints that is area is generating !
CEnsu Galea BE&A A&CE MP
Aug 10th 2009, 11:50
If one were to walk from Xemxija to Qawra there is practically a 4 km stretch of promenade that one can follow. It is true that there is a stretch of land (about 300m long) where trees are somehow blocking the view.
However, if this stretch of land is turned into something like Independence Garden in Sliema, the view would remain as blocked as it is today for the simple reason that while in Sliema the garden is in most areas below street level, here it is not possible to place such a garden below street.
Besides that, one should also note that the whole stretch of promenade from Ta' Fra Ben to the St. Paul's Bay primary school is going to be upgraded.
Hopefully this will solve some of the pioints which were raised by your correspondent.
Galea. L
Aug 10th 2009, 11:40
Don't touch the trees.
Remove the hotel extensions.
Marius Zulgis
Aug 10th 2009, 11:26
Is it my imagination or are there a large percentage of us who have a distinct aversion to trees? In an arrid, quasi-barren land with very litttle in the way of trees we get people writing in to remove what little foliage we have left!
Unbelievable!
Phil Humphries
Aug 10th 2009, 11:25
Less than 30 years ago much of this area's natural beauty was scared by disgarded litter and building waste and now all you have to complain about is trees and benches!
Surely there must be something else you would like changing? Perhaps the Council could re-direct the wind when it blows in from Maghtab, or maybe you would like them to turn the temperature up or down a bit?
What really surprises me is that you haven't complained about the naff colour of the promenade walls, rails and bins in the SPB area because, council colours or not, these are far more ugly and worthy of a rant than trees and benches.
Charles Micallef
Aug 10th 2009, 11:19
I agree that one builds a promenade by the seafront to enable the people walking on the seafront promenade and see the sea and enjoy the magnificent view.
These are overgrown and uncared for bushes and all they need is trimming, and the sea and the view will appear in no time at all
Joe Cassar
Aug 10th 2009, 10:39
Leave the trees alone!
If they are blocking your view, move yourself - not the trees.
M Grech
Aug 10th 2009, 10:38
I fully agree with Ms Rizzo, not only the treet but there's also an establishment (an extension to a hotel) which blocks the view completly apart from a nasty smell coming out of its roof which is on the same level as the stroller. Although there have been controversies, it seems that this is all hushed up now. As for the benches, they're ridiculously and amateurly done, just for a bit more of the cost! And once these benches are altered, the local council should make plans to add a few more on the Qawra part between Fra Ben and the hotels, and please some comfortable benches from the start.