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| Injunction halts tree felling in Plymouth city centre | Injunction halts tree felling in Plymouth city centre |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Plymouth city centre trees felled amid protests | |
| Plymouth city centre trees felled amid protests | |
| Contractors were forced to stop work to cut down more than 100 trees in Plymouth city centre after an injunction was issued. | Contractors were forced to stop work to cut down more than 100 trees in Plymouth city centre after an injunction was issued. |
| The High Court order was served after 01:00 GMT on Wednesday by the group Save the Trees of Armada Way (Straw). | The High Court order was served after 01:00 GMT on Wednesday by the group Save the Trees of Armada Way (Straw). |
| By that time the majority of the trees had been felled, but about 12 remain. | By that time the majority of the trees had been felled, but about 12 remain. |
| The tree felling is part of a regeneration plan for the city centre which will mean the planting of 169 new trees. | The tree felling is part of a regeneration plan for the city centre which will mean the planting of 169 new trees. |
| The High Court order was served just after 01:00 GMT on Wednesday by the group Save the Trees of Armada Way | The High Court order was served just after 01:00 GMT on Wednesday by the group Save the Trees of Armada Way |
| The project was paused in February to allow a consultation to take place. | The project was paused in February to allow a consultation to take place. |
| But on Tuesday Plymouth City Council announced the revised project would restart. | But on Tuesday Plymouth City Council announced the revised project would restart. |
| Analysis by BBC South West political reporter Ewan Murrie | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 a community engagement, which the council acknowledged showed "overwhelming objection" to the plans. | Mr Bingley's decision was published alongside the results of a community engagement, which the council acknowledged showed "overwhelming objection" to the plans. |
| Campaigners descended on Armada Way on Tuesday night to try to stop the felling, however, they were well outnumbered by police and security guards throughout the night. | Campaigners descended on Armada Way on Tuesday night to try to stop the felling, however, they were well outnumbered by police and security guards throughout the night. |
| 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. | 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. | 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 are yet to be chopped down. | But they said the would continue to take legal advice as they fight to protect the few mature trees that are yet to be chopped down. |
| Plymouth City Council said an additional 19 trees would be sowed alongside 150 semi-mature new trees | Plymouth City Council said an additional 19 trees would be sowed alongside 150 semi-mature new trees |
| On Tuesday protesters turned out in Plymouth city centre after contractors moved in to cut down the trees at about 20:30 GMT. | On Tuesday 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. | Some attempted to halt the work by climbing over a perimeter that had been set up. |
| Campaigner Ali White, from Straw, said the felling was "devastating" and the group would be asking for a judicial review of the decision. | Campaigner Ali White, from Straw, 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. | 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. | "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?" | "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". | 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". |
| Wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham tweeted that the felling was 'despicable vandalism". | Wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham tweeted that the felling was 'despicable vandalism". |
| What the actual ? @plymouthcc what is the matter with you ? What do you not understand ? Despicable vandalism @Natures_Voice @DevonWildlife https://t.co/xb7XNdgEcq | What the actual ? @plymouthcc what is the matter with you ? What do you not understand ? Despicable vandalism @Natures_Voice @DevonWildlife https://t.co/xb7XNdgEcq |
| Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, tweeted that the area looked like "a scene of environmental devastation". | 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. | 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. | Campaigners had collected more than 12,000 signatures as part of a petition against the council removing the trees. |
| Assistant chief executive Giles Perritt said although the council knew "some people will not be happy", it needed to "get on with this scheme". | Assistant chief executive 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. | 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. |
| "We hope that the majority of our residents will appreciate that we have done all we can to address people's concerns." | "We hope that the majority of our residents will appreciate that we have done all we can to address people's concerns." |
| 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 | 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 |
| Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Plymouth | Plymouth |
| Plymouth Council | Plymouth Council |
| Trees | Trees |