High court judge stops more Armada Way tree-felling

WATCH: Injunction extended

Nineteen trees that survived Plymouth City Council's middle-of-the-night axe last week have won a further temporary reprieve.

The High Court has granted an injunction to campaigners to prevent the surviving trees on Armada Way being felled to make way for city centre regeneration.

Council leader Richard Bingley, who signed an executive order that led to more than a hundred trees being chopped down, is to fall on his sword before presumably being axed himself at a council meeting on Monday.

His decision led to widespread derision and negative national press publicity. 

On Friday a High Court judge said he had serious concerns about the council's use of emergency powers to make the decision.

Sir Ross Cranston said he would keep an injunction in place pending a full legal challenge over the council's action. "The injunction will continue, the remaining trees cannot be felled at least for the time being," he said.

The judge explained: "once they are gone they are gone" and said there is a "serious issue to be tried" over whether the Mr Bingley's decision was lawful.

Luke Pollard whose Plymouth Sutton and Devonport constituency covers the city centre said: “The Armada Way trees should never have been chopped down. I am pleased that the court has protected these final few trees from the Conservative council for the time being.

“Cutting down these trees was an act of environmental vandalism and the court's decision today shows that the original decision was questionable.

"I have strongly opposed this scheme for months. The Tory cabinet - who signed off the felling without a vote from councillors - showed complete disregard towards the public.

"We now need to see the remaining trees protected and more planted in Armada Way."

This video report is from BBC Spotlight.