Senglea trees to stay as plans are changed

Most of the trees at Senglea seafront are to be retained after all, with the Transport Ministry bowing to public pressure to review its designs for the upgrading of the area.

The ministry explained how, before the works were taken in hand, it had carried out extensive consultation with stakeholders. A full development application was submitted to Mepa and no objection was made to the replacement of the trees with others. Mepa granted the permit for the trees to be relocated.

It was only once the works were taken in hand that complaints started being made about the uprooting of the 44 trees (30 Ficus Nitida and 14 Tamarisk).

The ministry said it will be submitting new plans which would see the relocation of only three of the Ficus and eight of the Tamarisk trees. They will be replanted in another section of the seafront.

The project will create a wider road for easier access to coaches serving the cruise liner berth at Senglea Point.

As a result of the redesign, however, the hardstanding facility for boat owners will be smaller than planned and it is not clear whether there will be fewer parking  spaces.