Destroyed pine trees land Pietà boċċi club in trouble

The Pietà boċċi club has taken the meaning of minor alterations to a whole new level – excavating rock and removing protected trees.

The club was supposed to carry out minor interior and exterior alterations to the premises at the edge of a protected pine grove in Sa Maison but instead cleared an adjacent area illegally, a planning authority spokesman confirmed.

The club would now have to pay a fine and plant indigenous trees to compensate for the damage done, the spokesman added.

A site visit revealed excavation works alongside the clubhouse that abuts onto the pine grove, damaged trees and a barren building.

The Mepa spokesman said the works were stopped on May 30 and the regulator ordered the site to be restored. He said the club would now have to submit a restoration method statement for approval.

“Once the restoration method statement is approved, works will be monitored to ensure full compliance,” the spokesman added.

Pine trees have been protected since 1949 when a government notice made it illegal to destroy, cut down and uproot conifer trees “wherever they are located” unless permission is granted by the Agricultural Department.

The regulations were eventually incorporated into the 2011 legal notice on the protection of trees and woodlands.

On May 17, the boċċi club filed a development notification to carry out the alterations. This is a simple planning process for minor changes by which developers merely inform the Malta Environment and Planning Authority of prospective works.

A similar procedure adopted two years ago for the upgrading of the club and works related to storm water flooding was blocked by Mepa.

Mepa had said the site was in a Grade 1 scheduled glacis that formed part of the Grand Harbour fortifications and requested a full planning process instead. Subsequently, a planning application was filed and, despite the case officer recommending the works be carried out, the planning board refused the application.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com