CONTROVERSIAL work to fell more than 100 trees in Plymouth City Centre was dramatically paused overnight after an injunction was issued.

The project to axe the trees along Armada Way was halted last month to allow a consultation to take place, but Plymouth City Council (PCC) this week announced that an executive order meant work could resume immediately.

It forms part of a major regeneration plan for the city centre which includes the planting of 169 new trees at the expense of 129 existing mature trees.

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Work restarted on Tuesday, but a High Court order to stop the tree felling was served hours later by the ‘Save the Trees of Armada Way (STRAW) group.

However, by then all but around 12 to 15 of the trees had been taken down.

A report explaining Conservative leader Richard Bingley’s use of special powers outlined how a decision was urgent ahead of local elections and the bird nesting season, along with the impact on businesses and potential extra costs due to further delays.

But the results of a community engagement, published alongside the council’s executive decision, revealed “overwhelming objection” to the plans.

In a statement on Facebook, STRAW said: “The people of Plymouth – who in the results of the engagement made clear they did not want this – will be waking up to this shocking news.

“Environmental destruction. A legacy of poor decision making. A wasteland, a barren stretch of land devoid of our mature trees. Perhaps 13 remain, maybe over 115 were destroyed tonight.”

The group added it had now entered a “legal battle with PCC. And we need your help to support the injunction we’ve served on them.”

Labour also criticised the executive order. Cllr Chris Penberthy said: “I am shocked at the brutal way in which this decision has been made and implemented.

Forestry Journal: An artist's impression of how the city centre will look An artist's impression of how the city centre will look (Image: LDR)

When it was published, the council’s assistant chief executive Giles Perritt added: “We need to get on with this scheme. 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." 

Cllr Bingley was approached for a comment, but a council spokesperson said: “As an injunction has been filed, we are now in a legal process and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”