Armada Way: Clean-up of felled trees begins in Plymouth city centre

The felled trees at Plymouth's Armada Way. Credit: BPM Media/STRAW

The clean-up has begun in Plymouth city centre where more than 100 trees were felled earlier this year.

The controversial decision was made by Plymouth City Council to cut down the trees in March.

Campaigners got an injunction at 1am to halt the chopping, but by that time not many of the trees remained.

It led to the resignation of the Conservative Plymouth City Council leader Richard Bingley.

The reason behind the felling was to make way for a multi-million pound regeneration project.

  • Watch the moment Armada Way trees were felled at night.

The clean-up

Initial work to assess and clear the area began on 15 September with work resuming at 5am on 21 September. The entire clean-up is expected to take around 24 hours.

It comes as Plymouth City Council has had its latest bid to stop the legal battle against them over the felling, thrown out of court.

A High Court injunction halted the work on the Armada Way project in the early hours of 15 March, leaving just 16 trees standing.

Work to clear the trees began at 5am.

The council had asked the court to stop a judicial review brought by protesters at Save the Trees of Armada Way (STRAW) - just three months after a judge said the hearing should go ahead.

The newly-elected Labour administration had claimed the proceedings were “academic” because it had sent the £12.7m Armada Way redevelopment scheme back to the drawing board.

But after a 20-minute hearing, it lost the renewed bid at the High Court on Thursday 14 September.

The legal fight will now move to a full judicial review, with STRAW saying the council had only succeeded in wasting more time and public money.

A STRAW spokesperson said: “We are delighted with the outcome of yesterday’s hearing.

"Repeated attempts by Plymouth City Council to wriggle out of the legal proceedings have been a totally irresponsible use of court time and taxpayers’ money, as the court made clear.

"We hope the council will now see sense and concede the case as we suggested months ago."

Plymouth City Council said it was “disappointed” that the judge refused its request for a rehearing on its application to set aside the legal proceedings.

A council spokesperson said: “We firmly believe that as the judicial review is based on a decision that has been overturned, the decision is therefore academic.

"Following a consultation on a new design, a new decision will be made.

Contractors began cutting down the trees in the city centre during the night. Credit: Michelle Lane

“To move forward with a lengthy JR process will cost the council thousands of pounds of taxpayer’s money; money that could be spent on other services.

"As a result of the judge’s decision we now will move to the full judicial review.”

The council said the legal process will not stop its plans to clean-up Armada Way.

"From 15 September, it will start initial preparations for the removal of the felled tree trunks and will start clearing vegetation that is not covered by a legal injunction.

“We are now almost ready to also come forward with our new design for consultation.

"We know that most people want to see action and a resolution for Armada Way. This is our priority.”

The stump of a tree which has been chopped down in Armada Way. Credit: BPM Media

On 15 September, contractors moved into the city centre to carry out strimming and scrub reduction works in the compound between North Cross and Mayflower Street and along Armada Way.

An independent ecologist was on site throughout and there were regular breaks in the clearance to check for wildlife, including nesting birds.

The council assured no further trees will be felled and the work will be carried out using strimmers, brush-cutters, hedge trimmers and other hand tools.

In June, High Court judge Ms Justice Lang threw out the council’s initial application to have the judicial review halted and said the council’s bid was “misconceived”.

The judicial review was brought to determine whether the council acted legally when it ordered the destruction of 129 trees in March.

STRAW said its grounds for the legal action included determining whether the council was within its powers to allow the leader at the time, Cllr Richard Bingley, to make an emergency order without calling in the decision for scrutiny.

The trees are being removed from the site. Credit: BPM Media/STRAW

STRAW's CrowdJustice campaign to raise cash for the legal fight has already topped £28,000 with more than 1,000 people pledging cash.

After the felled trees have been removed on 21 September, the council will make sure the whole area is clean, including litter, before the removal of the fencing.

The trees that have not been felled, including the 20 covered by the legal injunction, will be protected. The larger trunks that have been felled are being proposed for reuse.

The remnants of the remaining felled trees will be chipped onsite and the chippings will be stored temporarily before being sent to parks and allotments across the city.