More trees for Armada Way

Public to be asked for thoughts

The leader of Plymouth City Council has promised a “comprehensive consultation” on a new-look Armada Way, where tree-felling earlier this year resulted in widespread protest, a resignation and a pending judicial review.

Cllr Tudor Evans (Lab, Ham) says a new scheme, including more trees than were there before, will be presented to the public later this month or early September.

A total of 110 trees were cut down in the middle of the night in March as part of a major redevelopment programme, but it caused a huge outcry. An injunction to stop the work, and a judicial review into the decision, called for by objectors, will take place later in the year.

The decision cost the Conservative leader of the council at the time, Cllr Richard Bingley (Southway), his role. The new Labour administration, who were voted in at the May local elections, vowed to tidy up the mess.

A sign has now been erected in the city centre by the council saying it wants to “reinvigorate the renew the city centre”

Felled trees stumps have been removed, temporary surfaces put down and temporary fencing has been pulled back to create more space.

The council will remove the remaining felled trees when possible, once the bird-nesting season ends.

Cllr Evans said the design of the new scheme would be shaped by feedback from the public and stakeholders.

“The consultation will be a significant improvement to the last one,” he said. “We are currently finalising the consultation process as we want to be as comprehensive as we can.

“Obviously whatever we do in Armada Way is not going to be the same as it was before but when we stood in the election we promised we would have more trees there than we had before – there will be a green canopy again in Armada Way.”