The sound of chainsaws will soon be heard in the Senglea seafront area.

The campaign to save the trees providing shade to the benches was, as expected, a waste of time for they are all dying as the so-called ‘regeneration’ works progress. No doubt, the trees will have their roots ripped up by a JCB excavator.

So the person who did the original plans and the one who approved them have got their way.

Soon, the residents and the numerous visitors will be walking around tree stumps on limestone paving that is getting dirtier by the day.In the area of the Regatta Club, men have already been seen with mechanical cleaners.

What was wrong with the original paving? Unlike the paving at Marsascala, which is crumbling badly in lots of places, the paving in Senglea only needed a thorough clean-up and the trees would still be alive today.

The road has narrowed in places but the kerbs are ideal for motorists to simply drive over, so the tyre marks and oil leaks and the soon-to-be-broken paving will be an ugly sight indeed.

Thank goodness the EU paid for the majority of the work; 12 months after completion we should invite a delegation over to admire the work!