WATCH: Dozens Of Trees Around Xlendi Being Sacrificed For More Parking Spaces
Several trees providing shade to cars at the main Xlendi car park are in the process of being uprooted in a project intended to expand the car park.
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A video of works on the trees quickly went viral on social media this morning, giving rise to a debate as to whether the trees were being uprooted or merely pruned.
Contacted by Lovin Malta, Munxar mayor Damien Spiteri confirmed the trees will be uprooted as part of an ongoing masterplan for the Gozitan fishing village.
He said the relocation process began during the first quarter of the year when palm trees were uprooted and relocated to other parts of Gozo. The ficus trees which are currently being uprooted are expected to be relocated across Xlendi.
“The local council has been in contact with the authorities about the masterplan and has pressured them to ensure all trees remain in Xlendi,” Spiteri said. “The parking problem is a large one but there must be a balance between commercial and residential interests. I fear that only businesses, and not residents, will benefit from this project. Although more parking will be a step in the right direction, the locality will suffer from a social aspect.”
He added that the timing of the uprooting is off, given recent controversies involving the uprooting of trees in other projects.
“The local council has discussed this masterplan with the Gozo Minister and passed on people’s complaints on the uprooting of trees and other aspects of the masterplan,” he said. “I’ve been mayor for three months and this masterplan was one of the first items on my agenda, so I think I’ve been pro-active in this regard.”
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