Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543552
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 MARCH 2026 NEWS Contractor pours concrete around trees and then covers it with soil A contractor tasked with road- works next to Bieb is-Sultan in Żabbar has poured concrete around the base of mature trees and covered it up with soil. The works in question are covered by planning permit PA/07004/23 and include the "reconstruction and widening of existing roads including the for- mation and construction of a new road to link Żabbar to Smart City. On Sunday 21 February, images of the trees with concrete chok- ing their base emerged on social media, prompting mockery and anger. The following Tuesday, Malta- Today asked Infrastructure Malta (IM) about the works and in its explanation the following day, the agency said the pouring of con- crete around the trees was "com- pletely unacceptable". "It does not reflect the standards and environmental safeguards we require from our contractors," an IM spokesperson said. They added that the contrac- tor was immediately instructed to remedy the situation. "We can confirm that this issue was ad- dressed and resolved yesterday (Tuesday)." The spokesperson also attached an image of a different tree in the area surrounded by soil as evi- dence of the amendments. "Infrastructure Malta remains committed to ensuring that all works are carried out responsibly and in full respect of environmen- tal considerations," they added. However, on Friday, MaltaTo- day visited the area and inspect- ed the trees and after some light gardening, it was evident that the base of at least three trees was cemented over, with soil simply placed on top of it to hide the con- crete. Last April, Transport Malta (TM) and Infrastructure Malta (IM) announced revised plans for the road that starts from Żabbar's Notre Dame Gate, also known as Bieb is-Sultan, and will stretch to what is currently agricultural land until it reaches Kalkara's Capu- chin Convent. The project then aims to up- grade existing roads that connect the convent to the Kalkara foot- ball ground, down to the Malta Film Studios and the entrance to Smart City. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Top left: A photo of trees with concrete poured over their bases that was posted on social media by concerned citizens Above: MaltaToday inspected the trees after Infrastructure Malta said the problem was fixed and found that cement was still present under the layer of soil Left: Infrastructure Malta sent a photo of a different tree to show that the trees bases were fixed, claiming the contractor was asked to remove the concrete Five new kiosks at Ramla l-Hamra Bay will replace illegal structures Five new kiosks are set to be constructed at Ramla l-Ħamra Bay under a government-backed redevelopment plan, which plan- ning officials say would simulta- neously eliminate existing illegal structures. The plan will bring an end to three outstanding enforcement cases in the area that have been there for years. The application, submitted by the Gozo Ministry, proposes a re- organisation of the area previous- ly used for temporary kiosks, re- placing them with five permanent catering establishments alongside relocated public toilets, a new Emergency Rescue and Response Corps clinic, a beach facility office and traffic management measures along the approach road. The masterplan for the area submitted in 2020 is now set for approval by the Development Management Directorate, with the final decision to be taken by the Planning Board on 12 March. Central to the case officer's as- sessment is the site's enforcement history. The area is currently sub- ject to three notices (EC 118/12, EC 52/16 and EC 43/19) relating to kiosks erected without permits on scheduled land. The report stresses that the application does not seek to sanction these ille- galities. Instead, it requires their demolition as a precondition for development. The existing kiosks had been issued with a permit in 2000, but this was issued with a condition that these could operate between May and October with the permit being valid for only five years. Following consultation with the Enforcement Directorate, the Planning Directorate is now recommending that any permit issued will remain non-execut- able until the applicant submits photographic proof that all un- authorised structures identified in the demolition plans have been removed. Only after verification would the authority release the approved drawings and commencement notice, effectively linking the pro- ject's implementation to the clear- ance of enforcement breaches. Officials describe the scheme as a masterplan aimed at reor- ganising already disturbed land rather than expanding develop- ment within the environmentally sensitive bay. The site falls with- in a Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation and an Area of High Landscape Sensitivity, though en- vironmental authorities raised no objection provided strict safe- guards are followed, including limits on land take-up, protection of rubble walls and mature trees, and controlled waste manage- ment. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt A render of the proposed kiosks