A man who lives in Tal-Papa Street, Birzebbuga this morning filed a judicial application against the chairman of Mepa and the Police Commissioner, complaining that his requests for authorisation to remove a dead auricaria tree on his property had not been heeded, despite the danger.

Stephen Tonna said that this dead five-storey high tree, which was protected, posed a danger to his family and neighbours as well as his neighbours. Experts had certified that the trunk was dry and the tree could topple over or catch fire.

In February he had filed a request to Mepa to authorise him to remove the tree but Mepa had dragged its feet and ignored the danger that this tree posed to buildings and tenants, Mr Tonna said.

He added that he had recently discovered that without informing him, Mepa had accepted an application filed by a third party which included part of his property where the tree was located. Mepa asked this third party todeposit money as a guarantee for the tree would not to be removed.

Mr Tonna said he had drawn Mepa's attention that this second application was based on a false declaration, but Mepa still insisted that it did not want to authorise the removal of the tree because money had been deposited.

He said he had also filed a police report but no action had been taken.

He said it was shameful that both Mepa and the police were dragging their feet on the removal of this danger. He called on both parties to act and held them liable for any damages.