A set of old Aleppo trees on the pavement in Burmarrad Road have been choked with cement as a contractor filled up the square soil bases, leaving the trunks sticking out.
The cementing of the tree bases, done a few weeks ago, has been slammed by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, which said it was “appalled”.
The authority “is appalled that such methods of work are still carried out in this day and age,” a spokesman said.
The complete surfacing around tree trunks in cement “is not only insensitive to our environment but constitutes bad practice since it may adversely affect the tree growth,” the spokesman added. The planning authority said it was investigating the matter to find those responsible for these works “so as to reinstate the site to the authority’s satisfaction”.
When contacted, Transport Malta, responsible for the arterial road, said the contractor had been instructed to rectify the situation.
“The contractor proceeded with works before receiving detailed instructions. These works are not acceptable and the contractor has already been instructed to rectify,” a Transport Malta spokesman said.
The cementing of the tree bases was also slammed by biodiversity expert Alfred Baldacchino who said that it would damage and possibly endanger the trees.
The trees absorb rainwater, which falls into the soil, and their roots need air. Once the roots grow outwards, then the cement would be damaged and people would complain that the trees were damaging the pavement, Mr Baldacchino said.
Mr Baldacchino had received photographs of the cemented bases and immediately reported it to the authorities and the planning authority, which informed him it would investigate the matter.
“The authorities’ appreciation of trees is nil – irrespective of national and international obligations,” Mr Baldacchino said.
Instead of saying it was going to look into the matter, the planning authority should hire a contractor with the right machinery to break up the cement and send the bill to Transport Malta, he argued. “There is nothing to investigate – it’s dangerous to the tree and procrastinating doesn’t help”.