Council apologises after palm tree felling

Locals furious at 'total destruction'

Torbay Council has apologised for cutting down 40 iconic palm trees in a Torquay seaside park without telling anybody.

A social media outcry followed the felling of the much-loved palms in the Italian Gardens near Torre Abbey Sands, and the story has hit the national headlines. Some comments described the cull as ‘total destruction.’

Now the council’s parks and gardens company SWISCo has said sorry.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the company said: “You may have seen or heard about the work taking place and that we have removed some palm trees.

“We want to apologise for not adequately communicating with you about those plans in advance, and we should have shared our plans earlier and more widely.

“In our enthusiasm to deliver, we raced ahead and failed to let you know that we were going to be making a start on the scheme, so causing this breakdown in communication.”

Consultation over the restoration of the gardens in time for their 100th anniversary next year began in 2019, but the pandemic and budget pressures meant the work was delayed.

SWISCo says the trees were showing ‘signs of advanced decline.’ None was in its prime after years of battering from the seafront weather, the company claims.

The trees were cabbage palms, which have a lifespan of 50 to 70 years. Most were around 50 years old, having been planted in the 1970s.

SWISCo’s statement continues: “Of late, the quality of the gardens had diminished and they were looking far from their best. With the 100th anniversary of the gardens being next year, now felt the right time to make improvements.”

The new garden will feature 1,600 new plants from 12 different species, including some replacement palms. Palm trees did not feature in the gardens when they were first planted in 1924.

“As work continues in the new year, we will be sure to share with you how it is developing with updates on both our website and Torbay Council’s,” said the statement.