In the light of all the contro-versy surrounding the continued destruction of trees in Malta, it is saddening to discover that Qala council has applied to Mepa to remove the 32 mature trees which adorn one of Gozo’s most popular squares.

The usual cries of root damage and bird droppings are to be heard, but these were not enough to down the trees in Victoria’s Independence Square, nor should they be in Qala Square.

As with both squares, root damage, although present, was not significant, and bird droppings can easily be mitigated by constructing simple shelters over the seats as done in Naxxar, together with occasional cleaning by the council.

The debate is raging even though the cement and sand foundation for the new paving has been laid.

Even if given permission, it is impossible that they could uproot the trees without damaging the existing balustrade surrounding the church parvis or the new paving – so the next call will be that they have to be chopped down.

The centre of Qala is an Urban Conservation Area (UCA). The planning authority is meant to give “trees within UCAs a high priority for protection, particularly if there is a perceived threat to the trees or if the authority considers that their removal will be detrimental to the overall visual appearance of the UCA”.

Policy RCO4 in the Structure Plan states: “The Planning Authority will not permit the development of any structure or activity which in the view of the Authority would adversely affect scenic value because it would: ... adversely affect existing trees or shrubs”.

The planning authority’s outlook towards existing trees is clearly aimed at their conservation, so what is happening here? The recently formed ‘Save Qala’s Trees’ Facebook page informs us that the Church was against the removal of the trees from their land, meanwhile another posting says the council is awaiting permission from Mepa.

So much for eco-Gozo, which talks of “improvement of air quality being fundamental to the eco-Gozo vision” and of planting trees, not killing them.

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