Clear Castille Place, NGO insists

The trees planted in front of Auberge de Castille, in Valletta were unnecessarily masking a good part of the grand beauty of the historic landmark, according to Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.

The heritage non-governmental organisation said the planned landscaping and pedestrianisation of Castille Place should be set into motion, with the present monuments being repositioned in either the same square or, preferably, elsewhere.

The tree removal exercise should also be extended to those lining St John's Co-Cathedral and the Main Guard, the foundation said. "Both buildings are of great architectural value and should be re-exposed to full-view," it said.

But as an ecological compensation, the trees should not merely be chopped but replanted elsewhere.

"Trees of this size are known to severely undermine buildings with their ever-expanding thick roots. Many of the existing trees had started off in the late 19th century as mere saplings planted in decorative cast-iron planters, which they outgrew with the passage of time, causing the pots to crack and break and the roots... to enter the ground and flourish," it said.

Meanwhile, Valletta mayor Alexei Dingli said the government will be planting 10 trees in the city, mostly in Hastings Garden, for every one removed from in front of Castille.

Workers from the Environmental and Landscape Consortium on Tuesday removed the four trees occupying the narrow patch of soil in front of Castille.

Dr Dingli said the decision to remove them was taken after one of the trees was dangerously damaged by strong winds and another was showing symptoms of disease.

"The city achieved a double deal out of this," he said. "The façade of Castille is completely visible again and Valletta will become greener."

A spokesman for the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs said the façade of the building and its sides on Merchants' and St Paul streets will be cleaned-up in the coming months.