In the area of Sta Margerita in Mosta, there is a chapel which was rebuilt in 1771 to replace an older one built before 1577.  Close to this chapel there was a cemetery in which the victims of the 1592 plague used to be buried.  A damaged slab from this cemetery can be still found in the chapel.

Unfortunately, due to lack of thought, a large tree was planted in front of it. It dwarfs the chapel and God knows what damage it is doing to the foundation of this building.  To make things worse, another tree to the left hand side is suffocating the chapel.

These chapels are a treasure. They have been around for hundreds of years and it is sad to see them ignored.  Luckily the government has done some restoration work on several chapels in Malta and Gozo but we need to see more efforts to prevent damage to several of them which are being destroyed because of trees planted irresponsibly.

I urge the parish priests of the various parishes to visit the chapels in their area and do something to prevent more damage. Some months ago, I wrote about the tree in front of another chapel dedicated to Sta Margerita in Burmarrad.

I even wrote to the St Paul’s Bay local council and to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

What has been done since?  Nothing, for which I thank the parish priest of Burmarrad and the efficient authorities who are supposed to protect our heritage.

I ask Minister George Pullicino to put pressure on whoever is responsible to save our chapels and would also like to thank him for the work he has done so far.