Watch: ADPD Leader Calls Protest To ‘Save St Paul’s Bay Ficus Trees’ From Health Centre Project
ADPD leader Sandra Gauci has called a protest for 28th December over concerns that a small number of ficus trees in St Paul’s Bay could be uprooted to make way for a new regional health centre.
“We have nothing against clinics – well, we do in this case because it’s not the right place for it – but why do trees have to be uprooted?” Gauci said in a Facebook video from the site of the proposed heath centre.
“Can’t we just leave them there? What are they doing wrong? Not to mention the birds that come to rest here. We can’t repeat the mistake we made with the Mosta trees.”
“Residents know that they’re taking our coast on one side and now they’re taking the few trees we have left. There is nothing but buildings, parking, dust, cranes, and hotels in this town and no greenery at all.”
The proposed regional health centre, which will cater for residents of the north and northwest of Malta, is intended to reduce pressure on Mater Dei. A similar health centre recently opened in Paola for people who live in the south of Malta.
It will be built on a stretch of land that is currently used as a car park, but the loss of parking will be compensated by the construction of an underground car park with space for 864 vehicles.
A new open space will be built, which will include new trees to compensate for the ones that will be removed.
However, Birdlife Malta recently filed a complaint with ERA, noting that ficus trees are protected in urban public open spaces under the Trees and Woodlands Protection Regulation.
They said a preliminary survey shows around 800 white wagtails, a protected species, and an unspecified number of Spanish sparrows roost in these ficus trees every night.
“BirdLife Malta appeals to the Foundation for Medical Services within the Ministry for Health to seriously and duly consider a revision of the proposed plans, to incorporate, rather than obliterate such trees within their scheme, acknowledging their importance for not just avifauna, but human health,” a statement read.
“The current situation with trees being massacred, translocated or obliterated from urban areas is unforgivable in such times when the country keeps seeing development at the expense of our well-being and that of our environment.”
Will you attend this protest?
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