Plymouth mess: more delay

Legal action holding up work

Delays caused by a judicial review and an injunction are holding up work to sort out the ‘mess’ in Plymouth city centre, councillors have been told.

The redevelopment of Armada Way was described as ‘vital’ as its future was debated at a full council meeting on Monday.

But legal proceedings which followed the controversial felling of 100 trees in the dead of night have stalled the multi-million-pound project. A national outcry ensued when the trees were felled earlier this year. Work to cut down the remaining trees was only paused after a last-minute injunction, with the furore leading to the resignation of the then-leader of the council, Conservative politician Richard Bingley.

A judicial review had been launched into the project, but new council leader Tudor Evans (Lab, Ham) says the legal moves are no longer relevant because the original scheme is no more.

He told the meeting: “We inherited a right old mess in the heart of the city.”

He has overturned the decision to start the original scheme, which meant it will no longer go ahead.

“The judicial review is a dark cloud over the future of Armada Way,” he said. “It is unnecessary and academic, and it is costing taxpayers thousands of pounds.

“The legal action is based on a redundant decision. It is based on a decision that I have overturned. It is off the table, it has been binned, and to continue the Pythonesque, it has ceased to be.”

A new proposal for the redevelopment of the city centre is currently being drawn up, and the trees which survived the night-time axe will be retained. There will be less clutter, and more areas for children.

Cllr Andy Lugger (Con, Southway) urged the council to get on with the job.

He said: “This is a key trading area and nobody will invest in it looking like this. There are shops in the area who cannot sign their commercial leases until there is some clarity.”

Cllr Evans went on: “We must sort out Armada Way for the benefit of the whole city. The future of Plymouth city centre is in our hands.”