A Tory council boss has stood by his decision to chop down an urban forest on Armada Way in Plymouth during the dead of night.
On the night of Tuesday March 14th. thanks to a last-minute high court injunction served at 1am, the felling was immediately stopped.
Sadly, it was too late for 117 trees which Plymouth City Council (PCC) managed to destroy in just 5 hours.
Defended
However, in his letter to Tory councillors and supporters, Cllr Bingley defended the scheme and the council’s procedures. He said more than 99% of Plymouth people have not engaged in consultation and engagement programmes and therefore the protesters’ opinions don’t represent everyone.
Locals chanted and protested but the action was only stopped at 1am when a group secured a court injunction. However, by that point 110 established trees had been felled on Armada Way.
Here is what it looked like before?
Tree lined street for Councillor
MailOnline revealed that Councillor Bingley owns a five-bed terraced house in the city on a quiet tree-lined street half a mile away from where the trees were cut down.
Retired nurse Shirley Cooper told the publication said: ‘They have cut all these trees down despite being told loudly and clearly by residents “we don’t want this”.
‘Quite simply the council isn’t listening to us. They say they will replace the trees but you cannot replace them like-for-like.
‘They are telling us all to sign up and vote – how well is that going to go for them now?’
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