Judicial review over Plymouth tree felling begins

The scheme saw more than 100 trees chopped down in Plymouth city centre in March 2023

A High Court judge is hearing a case about whether a council acted unlawfully in felling over 100 trees.

Plymouth City Council's former Conservative leader Richard Bingley signed an order for trees in Armada Way to be cut down in March 2023.

When Labour took control of the council in May, the new leader, Tudor Evans, scrapped the scheme.

The case against the council is being brought by Ali White, from Save the Trees of Armada Way.

How Armada Way looked after the tree felling

Richard Harwood KC, counsel for Ms White, told the court in London that the council's decision to use an urgency procedure to get authorisation to cut down the trees was "completely absurd".

"The consultation response was dealt with in a way which was biased and irrational and the decision was predetermined," he said.

"The court ought to be concerned to get to the bottom of these matters."

Members of Save the Trees of Armada Way make their point outside court

Plymouth City Council told the court the new leader elected in May 2023 withdrew the decision.

The council said the leader also accepted a full council decision in July to commission an independent review which was still planned to go ahead.

The council said it was "hard to see how it could have done more".

Before the case opened, the council said the decision to fell the trees was taken by a previous council administration, so the felling was "academic".

"While we remain hopeful that the judge will agree, it is important to remember that the legal hearing today does not impact the current plans to regenerate Armada Way," said a spokesperson.

"Our city deserves to have a better city centre, a city centre that rivals others across the country and one where people want to live, work, visit, shop and do business in," they said.

Ali White of Save the Trees of Armada Way arrives at the court

A new design for Armada Way included more trees than were previously on Armada Way, said the spokesperson.

"Whatever the outcome, we will continue to drive forward these plans to create a city centre we can all be proud of," they said.

The High Court previously rejected Plymouth City Council's application to have the judicial review thrown out.

In February the council approved new plans to regenerate Armada Way involving planting more than 200 trees and building a new play village at a cost of about £37m.