Tree lovers have expressed shock at plans to uproot trees lining Paola’s main square but Mayor Roderick Spiteri is open to suggestions about how to maintain the town’s “lungs” without damaging its road infrastructure.
Plans to revamp Piazza Antoine de Paule, which have been approved by the planning authority, include levelling out and pedestrianising a large part of the area, installing water fountains and setting up benches and canopies.
An artistic impression shows the square bare of the current ficus trees while palm trees are scattered across it.
Following the uprooting of trees in Fgura and Żebbug, many are wondering whether the Paola trees will face the same fate.
But Mr Spiteri told The Times that although the artistic impression shows palm trees, he would like to meet NGOs to discuss the possibility of planting other species that would provide shelter.
This was confirmed by Astrid Vella, from environmental lobby group Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, who said the mayor had been receptive to suggestions about the trees and the design of the square. Mr Spiteri was elected in March, after the project plans were submitted to the planning authority in 2011.
He explained that trees currently lining the square were damaging the road and an underground reservoir in front of the public convenience, but admitted they provided shelter and “lungs” for the city centre.
The mayor did not rule out replanting the same ficus trees if there was a way to contain their roots and prevent them from damaging the infrastructure.
A solution could be to create bedding around the trees’ roots, according to Antonio Anastasi from the FAA Tree Group.
“The idea of uprooting a whole tree because its roots are causing damage is like chopping off your hand instead of curing your infected finger.
“If roots cause damage to a house, or the road, a trench could be dug to prune the root and put up a barrier to contain and redirect it. These root barriers, or bedding, could be made of concrete,” he said. Frequent uprooting and aggressive pruning of trees in Malta led the FAA to set up its Tree Group to promote tree conservation. Mr Anastasi believes the number of trees should be increased in urban zones and not displaced to rural areas.
He added that shade cast by trees would lower the temperature and help conserve the asphalt and pavements. It also helped keep houses cooler in summer and protected them from the wind in winter.
However, he said in Malta trees were being pulled out of urban areas and people had to traveloutside of their villages to enjoy green areas.
On the other hand, European towns were “going out of their way” to plant trees in towns.
Some two weeks ago FAA set up an online petition called Stop Killing Trees in Malta, which has attracted more than 2,000 signatures.
It calls on the Prime Minister, the Resources, Tourism and Infrastructure Ministers, and the Environment Landscape Consortium and planning authority chairman to protect trees in urban areas.
The FAA petition can be found at: www.change.org/petitions/stop-killing-trees-in-malta