Bid to remove five-storey high tree proves tricky

A man who wants to uproot a five-storey high dead tree from his back garden has filed a judicial protest against the planning authority accusing it of dragging its feet in issuing a permit.

Stephen Tonna, from Birżebbuġa, said he applied to the planning authority in February to remove an auricaria tree which had been certified as dead by a gardening company. He is insisting the tree is a hazard to his family, his property, neighbours and any person who might be passing by in the road.

He accused the Malta Environment and Planning Authority of imposing a bank guarantee not to remove the tree in a separate application filed by a third party. This incorrectly included part of Mr Tonna’s garden in its plans.

Even though he filed a police report and informed Mepa about the false declaration by the third party, he was still not allowed to remove the tree because of the bank guarantee, the judicial protest said.

He called on Mepa to allow him to remove the dangerous tree and said he would hold them responsible for any damages.

Lawyer Anna Mallia signed the judicial protest.