Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) has welcomed a decision by the MEPA Environment and Planning Review Tribunal to refuse Victoria Local Council’s appeal to uproot the trees lining Pjazza Independenza (it-Tokk).

"At a time when the EU has just reported that some 220 people a year die prematurely due to air pollution in Malta, it is ever more important to plant trees and preserve existing mature trees in polluted urban areas such as Victoria’s t-Tokk’ area," the environment NGO said 

Contrary to what was claimed by the Local Council, a leading archaeologist confirmed to MEPA that uprooting these trees would do far more damage to any archaeology beneath the square than leaving them in place.

Biologist Alfred Baldacchino stated: “The decision by the Appeals board against the uprooting of the it-Tokk Trees in Gozo Independence Square is indeed good news. This shows that eNGOs and individuals, with determination can be part of a decision. This is good news for everyone concerned, that is: society, the environment, and the commercial interest. These will all benefit. One hopes that this is a harbinger of things to come.

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar urges the Victoria Local Council to do everything possible help the trees at it-Tokk recover from the damage they suffered during the ‘embellishment’ works. The NGO again offers Council the services of Ian Lansley, expert UK arborist, to consult the council, as professional pruning can decrease the roosting of birds and reduce droppings in the square.