PADUA – The parents of the “Il Trenino” nursery school point the finger at Palazzo Moroni: «The tree that fell last week at San Lorenzo da Brindisi is only the latest in a series of episodes that highlight inadequate management of municipal nurseries». However, reassurances arrive from the Municipality: «The garden of the nursery is perfectly usable and the restored headquarters of the Little Train will be ready by the end of the year at the latest».
Tree falls on a little girl, parents report
«We have decided to write a letter to the green councilor Antonio Bressa and to the head of school policies Cristina Piva to report a situation of great discomfort – explained yesterday Paolo Roberti, who is part of the management board of the Il Trenino all’Arcella nursery. – We are referring to the serious episode in which, last Friday, a tree fell on a little girl’s head. Bressa played down what happened. This episode is part of a general context of mismanagement by the administration of our and other municipal nurseries. But safety is a duty.”
«For a year we have been on loan in another complex, namely the San Lorenzo da Brindisi in via Beethoven with reduced spaces while waiting for the renovation of the original headquarters of the train – he added – The school building councilor Cristina Piva has promised the almost certain reopening of the nursery in September, only to then inform us that the reopening will be postponed once again. We ask for greater attention and responsibility from this administration.” In the letter sent to the Municipality, particular emphasis is placed on the fall of the tree which occurred last Friday. “The Green Sector reported that about a month ago the dead and dry parts of the tree in question were removed, as well as having carried out the technical requirements following an assessment of the stability of the trees – we read in the letter – We consider this information to be limited and not responding to the questions and doubts that parents are asking about the state of the other trees, and whether there is a need for a re-evaluation before being able to go out into the garden again. Bressa limited himself to declaring not to stop near the trees in the case of heavy rains. Declaration of convenience and in our opinion meaningless, aimed at relieving oneself of responsibility”.
The municipality’s response
«The Municipality invests important resources in the control of the city’s tree heritage, as has always been done in the nursery school garden to safeguard the safety of citizens and in this case of the children and school staff who attend the garden – Bressa replied yesterday – In particular in the school garden, the necessary assessments had been carried out as usual and with a lightening intervention in the month of April on the Prunus in question”.
«The activity is aimed at reducing the risk of failure as much as possible but it is not possible to prevent the emergence of sudden natural phenomena which can lead, as in this case, to sudden and unpredictable subsidence conditions hidden by the ground and caused by particular meteorological conditions – added the councilor – These are rare circumstances, but in fact we always give the suggestion of avoid parking near trees during thunderstorms or after heavy rain. In any case, we would like to reassure parents and school staff regarding the usability of the garden where the plants and trees have already been correctly monitored.” Reassurances also came from Cristina Piva. «I understand the parents’ concerns. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the works on the train should be completed by September. At that time it will be necessary to carry out testing. Everything, however, should be ready by the end of the year.”
