Heavy pruning of trees on one of Naxxar's main avenues has left residents angry and desolate but the local council has justified the move saying it was the fruit of complaints about the damage they caused and of countless consultation meetings with experts.

The trees bordering 21st September Avenue were being heavily pruned, baring their stark branches, to heed the complaints of inconvenienced residents, according to the council.

It actually held back, explaining that, despite a number of requests to have them uprooted and replaced by smaller ones, it "resisted the drastic measure and acted responsibly to find a happy medium".

But the "happy medium" does not seem to have aroused much joy on every front. The Times has received many complaints, some, saying the area should now be renamed Horror Road.

The council said it was inundated with complaints from residents about the presence of the trees, so much so that it could not remain passive.

The ficus trees in 21st September and Labour Avenue have been the subject of discussion for years, involving meetings with Environment Landscape Consortium and Malta Embellishment and Landscaping Projects (MELP) experts to explore "every possible solution to avoid resorting to drastic measures", the council's executive secretary, Paul Gatt said.

Residents, he said, were mainly concerned about the fact that the trees were blocking windows, even on upper floors. "And I'm not just referring to blocking views; they were even unable to open the windows!"

In some instances, the height of the trees exceeded the rooftops. Being so high, it was becoming a difficult task for workmen to prune them safely and health and safety issues had to be considered.

Relaying residents' complaints, Mr Gatt said that, at least twice a year, for about two months, the trees grew hundreds of thousands of seeds that fell once ripe, causing inconvenience as they stuck to the bottom of shoes, ending up in homes and even on roofs, allegedly also damaging the body paint of cars.

When the pruning started, MELP officials were present to ensure it would be done professionally and according to specifications, Mr Gatt said.

Unlike similar jobs in other localities, the Naxxar trees were not being cut down to their trunks, he explained. "In no time, they should be full of new leaves and then kept to a medium size to limit the inconvenience being suffered."

However, not everyone was worried about body paint and seeds on soles of shoes.

Pauline Vella, who lives on the corner of 21st September Avenue, is one of those who did not join the chorus of complaints against the trees and sang their praises instead. Stripped of their greenery, they had simply uncovered the ugly façades of some buildings. It was not just a matter of aesthetics. Commenting on their beauty, she said they had a practical function, providing shade and freshness in summer and shelter in winter.

Ms Vella, and others who called The Times, feared the exercise would continue along 21st September Avenue down to the playing fields and in Labour Avenue.

"Naxxar is becoming a desert and we will be constrained to leave due to the sun and heat in summer," she said, wondering who gave the order. "I am shocked and disappointed: I expected some consultation, a petition, or something..."

Another resident of 21st September Avenue said she had never complained about the "inconvenience" caused by the trees and that everyone wanted them. On the contrary, she said their removal had ruined the street, which was now "horrific". Speaking of the "disaster" in the locality, she said the trees were home to hundreds of birds, which flocked to them in the evening and sang in the morning.

"I thought only a few would be removed because a building was being demolished and the crane would not fit," the resident said. "They used to suck away the bad air... Now I don't want to live here anymore!"