Plymouth tree felling delayed

Public consultation underway

People in Plymouth are being asked to give their views on how the city centre’s Armada Way project should look following a public outcry over plans to uproot over 100 trees.  

The city council has begun a so-called “short sharp engagement” on the £12.7 million revamp which will run until Saturday. 

The consultation comes after Plymouth City Council agreed to suspend all tree-felling while a meaningful engagement process takes place this month.

Previous plans to revamp the city centre boulevard were hit with opposition as campaign groups pledged to fight proposals to dig up the trees. 

Campaign group Save the Trees of Armada Way (STRAW) collected thousands of signatures against the move.

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

All this week people will be able to visit an exhibition in Plymouth Guildhall and will be able to voice their opinions on the plans.

The design team will also answer questions, explain why they chose the current plan and listen to any ideas for improvements. 

Conservative councillor for Budshead and cabinet member for transport, Jonathan Drean, said: “My previous pause of the scheme was a genuine attempt to look at how many of the existing trees could be kept without unduly compromising other benefits of the scheme.

“I recognise we need to ensure everyone has a chance to have their say, whether they support our modified scheme or not. Ultimately I have had to balance a number of different views and opinions on the best way forward for the Armada Way scheme. 

“This further period of community engagement will therefore help me consider any final changes to the plans and see whether people think they can be improved.”

Controversy over the Armada Way redevelopment has also led to rows among the ruling Conservatives with Plympton St Mary councillor, Patrick Nicholson, citing the scheme among his reasons for resigning from the Tory group and joining the Independent Alliance.