Labour wants Plymouth tree-felling axed

Council rejects 7,000 signatures on petition

February is to be a key month for the future of Armada Way in Plymouth as city councillors agreed to begin a period of “meaningful community engagement.” 

The move follows public concern over plans to dig up more than 100 trees in the city centre; a project fiercely opposed by campaign group Save the Trees of Armada Way (STRAW).

After a petition opposing the plans was presented to Plymouth City Council, Labour introduced an amendment asking for tree-felling to be suspended while a meaningful community engagement process takes place this month.

Although the petition included about 12,000 signatures, only about 5,000 were accepted by the council as it was claimed many of the names were duplicated and some did not live in the area. 

STRAW representative Mr Thomas accused the council of ignoring the wishes of the majority of signatories.  He told councillors: “What you have done in response to this unprecedented groundswell of anger and passion shown by your constituents is put your fingers in your ears. You double-down and you refuse to listen to any genuine concerns. You revise your plan behind closed doors with no input from stakeholder groups.”

Conservative councillor for Budshead, Jonathan Drean, the cabinet member responsible for overseeing the scheme, said: “I have said all along I'm happy to meet with the campaigners and I reiterate that commitment again. 

“It is therefore not at all fair to say that the council has had no indication of seriously taking on board the concerns and criticism made of the Armada Way scheme.”

In introducing its amendment, Labour councillor for Stoke, Tom Briars-Delve, the party’s spokesperson for climate change, said: “After months and months of waiting, any mention of public consultation from your Conservative administration is likely to be received with some scepticism.

“The public must be heard and they must be heard urgently. That is why our amendment requires meaningful community engagement to happen - not down the line, not when further works have already occurred - but as soon as possible this February.”

Protesters at Plymouth's former civic centre on Monday (image courtesy: Josh Tate/Radio Exe)

Cllr Briars-Delve added: “Our amendment demands that all tree-felling in Armada Way should be suspended immediately.”

Leader of the Independent Alliance and member for Compton, Nick Kelly, suggested the council was spending too much time on an issue which had already been decided.

“Whilst this amendment probably will be supported - both Labour and Conservatives have agreed that this will go through - but this in itself detracts potentially from the more serious and harder hitting [issues] that we have further on.”

The amendment passed with 48 votes in favour.  Details of the community engagement process will be published by Plymouth City Council in due course.