The reconstruction works on Valley Road in Balzan has started with the removal of trees in the stretch which has been described by Minister Ian Borg as one of the worst roads in Malta.

The works will continue throughout the next few months until the end of the summer.

Along with the rebuilding of the road there will also be 1.2 km of pavement reconstructed, according to the minister. 

Two trees will be uprooted in order for the works to proceed. Workmen turned up this morning to remove the trees.

Over the past weeks there has been a growing concern about the indiscriminate way that trees on Maltese roads are being chopped to make way for the reconstruction of roads.

Balzan mayor Ian Spiteri uploaded the project plans on his Facebook page earlier this week. He said the trees will be relocated and an expert has been appointed to monitor the entire process.

In the meantime, a protest against the destruction of trees is being organized for Sunday 30 June, in Valletta. The protest is being by a number of groups.

 

Attendees are being urged to wear green clothes and bring plants. “At the moment the Malta we know is changing. Our green environment is being demolished and replaced with concrete and mature trees chopped and justified with ‘new saplings planted’ in some cases,” the event description says, adding that this process was destroying our history and “filling our souls with concrete.”