Senglea activists have won a stay of execution for trees lining the city’s waterfront, which many feared would be uprooted this week.
The trees were earmarked for removal as part of a €1.8 million embellishment of Senglea Waterfront by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation (GHRC).
Senglea mayor Justin Camilleri told The Times that a final decision on their fate has been postponed until after a meeting between the council and the GHRC on Tuesday.
More than 1,100 activists joined an online group opposing the trees’ removal in the past few days.
Many had threatened to take direct action after the trees were spray-painted with a red ‘T’ last Tuesday, which was interpreted as indicating their imminent ‘termination’.
The campaign is being spearheaded by Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) Tree Group member Antonio Anastasi and Senglea resident Robert Formosa.
Mr Anastasi said it made no sense to replace trees that had survived the elements for the past 50 years with young saplings that would need constant care and attention.
The current line of ficus nitida trees provides much-needed shade, Mr Anastasi said, which is enjoyed by residents and tourists alike in summer.
According to the Mepa-approved plans, they will be replaced by non-indigenous Melia azedarach saplings and new benches will be placed on the waterfront with no shade covering.
“I very much doubt these saplings will withstand the test of time and, even if they do, it will take years before they grow big enough to provide shade,” Mr Anastasi said.
“This problem goes beyond Senglea – there is a tendency to uproot trees across the island as though we have too many, when in reality there are few left.”
A GHRC spokesperson said ficus nitida trees “are notoriously known” to have an aggressive root system that may damage the new landscaping.
The current practice is that such trees are uprooted from areas where they are likely to cause damage and replanted at Ta’ Qali, the GHRC said.
But FAA coordinator Astrid Vella said the ficus nitida in Senglea did not appear to have undergone the necessary treatment for surviving such a move.
Senglea residents Mr Formosa and Anna Spiteri added that the trees have not damaged the current paving and they are well-loved by the local community.
Responding to residents’ concerns, the mayor said the council was consulting experts to see if the existing trees can be incorporated into the development plans at this late stage.
“We value the concerns of our residents and we are passing them all on to the GHRC,” the mayor said.