Trees in the way of development?

Abstract

A few weeks ago the media reported the untimely death of three mature trees in the precincts of Villa Rosa garden. Under normal circumstances, such an event would not raise many eyebrows, especially as many put environmental issues on the backburner during summer. However, it so happens that these are not ‘normal circumstances’ for the area in question, as an application has been submitted to develop the gardens. The application proposes to encroach on the garden’s lower level to develop 7,500 square metres of new commercial space, besides removing the three-metre-wide boundary wall and pedestrianising the back-beach area at St George’s Bay.