Early-hours injunction halts 'despicable' tree felling in Plymouth

The High Court order was served just after 01:00 GMT on Wednesday by the group Save the Trees of Armada Way

Council contractors felled 110 trees in Plymouth city centre before an injunction forced them to stop.

The city council said it was taking legal advice and felling was abandoned at about 01:00 GMT.

Wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham tweeted that the felling was "despicable vandalism".

The felling is part of a regeneration plan for the city centre which will mean the planting of 169 new trees, the local authority said.

Plymouth City Council said all but 16 of the trees due to be felled had been taken down and it would be pressing ahead with its plan to complete the felling.

How Armada Way looks following the tree felling

The authority had put a pause on the project in February to allow a consultation to take place but on Tuesday it announced the revised project would restart.

Assistant chief executive at the council, Giles Perritt, said although the council knew "some people will not be happy", it needed to "get on with this scheme".

Mr Perritt said: "We've listened, we have made more environmental improvements and have added more trees but our core priority has to be creating a smart, business-friendly, attractive, city centre."

The council said the felling, which started at about 20:30 GMT, took place at night "for reasons of public safety and impact on the city centre".

More than 100 trees were felled overnight in Plymouth

Analysis by BBC South West political reporter Ewan Murrie

After many months of delay, a sudden decision came on Tuesday from Plymouth City Council to press ahead with the tree felling, despite wide objections from members of the public.

Leader Richard Bingley used powers that allowed him to bypass the usual scrutiny of fellow councillors, arguing a decision was urgent ahead of local elections and the bird nesting season.

He also referenced the impact on businesses and additional project costs due to further delays.

Mr Bingley's decision was published alongside the results of community engagement, which the council acknowledged showed "overwhelming objection" to the plans.

Campaigners, who descended on Armada Way on Tuesday night to try to stop the felling, were outnumbered by police and security guards.

Straw said a friendly lawyer helped "get a judge out of bed" to secure an injunction against the felling at about 01:00, by which time most trees had been destroyed.

Given the scale of the felling which has already occurred - about 100 to 115 trees are thought to have been felled - there is no good outcome now for the campaigners.

But they said the would continue to take legal advice as they fight to protect the few mature trees that remain.

Plymouth City Council said an additional 19 trees would be sowed alongside 150 semi-mature new trees

Protesters turned out in Plymouth city centre after contractors moved in to cut down the trees at about 20:30 GMT.

Some attempted to halt the work by climbing over a perimeter that had been set up.

Campaigner Ali White, from campaigners Save the Trees of Armada Way, said the felling was "devastating" and the group would be asking for a judicial review of the decision.

She told BBC Radio Devon: "It is not about planting more trees, it is about saving the trees that were here.

"We are not against redevelopment, but they have not listened.

"There was no need to fell them, why wait 30 years for mature trees when you have them already?"

A city council spokesperson said the authority would be "obtaining legal advice once we have received the claimant's application, as directed by the court".

Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, tweeted that the area looked like "a scene of environmental devastation".

Under the regeneration work, Plymouth City Council had said 129 trees would be felled in Armada Way, but an additional 19 trees would be sowed alongside 150 semi-mature new trees.

Campaigners had collected more than 12,000 signatures as part of a petition against the council removing the trees.

Council leader Richard Bingley has been approached for comment.

Plymouth City Council had said 129 trees would be felled in Armada Way, but an additional 19 trees would be sowed alongside 150 semi-mature new trees