Work to further clear Armada Way of felled trees and brush will take place on Thursday 21 September from 5am.
With the bird nesting season now ended, the Council’s independent ecologists have been using thermal imaging technology, during dawn surveys, to assess if there are any live bird nests within the felled trees and brushes on Armada Way.
The ecologists now believe that there are no obvious signs of nesting, so have advised that the clean-up can start, albeit cautiously, with continuous checks while during the clean-up operation. It is hoped that the clean-up will take 24 hours.
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “I know that there will be a big sigh of relief that we can finally get on with finishing the clean-up of Armada Way.
“Since May we have tried really hard to clean-up as best we could, but because of the legal injunction, we obviously couldn’t do everything.
“We have already removed most of the tree stumps and pulled back the fencing, but at last we can remove the felled trees that have blighted our city centre for so many months.
“I have asked that as much as possible, this work is carried out in daylight hours. But it will be disruptive. I would like to thank businesses and residents for being so patient over the past few months. None of us wanted to be in this situation – but we can’t turn back time and finally there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“We will work tirelessly to clean-up the current mess and ensure that Armada Way is reopened again. Soon after the felled trees have been removed, we will also publish our new designs for Armada Way and ask your views.
“Bit by bit we are taking back control. Bit by bit we will create a city centre that we all can be proud of.”
The independent ecologists, with input from arborists (tree experts) have prepared a methodology that the Council will ask contractors to follow when they start the work. In line with the legal injunction conditions, this methodology has been shared with the claimant in the High Court case. The Council will have an independent ecologists on site and the claimant is also allowed to have an environmental expert on site during the clean-up.
The work will be carried out from 5am on Thursday 21 September. The Council is working on the premise that the removal work will take place over a 24 hour period, starting in the early morning and continuing through the day into the evening and overnight, if necessary, to enable completion and to minimise disruption as much as possible.
Steve Hughes, Chief Executive of Plymouth City Centre Company said: “I’m sure all the traders here will be very relieved to learn that the clear up can finally take place and that we can start looking ahead once more.
“We are all very much looking forward to seeing what the new designs look like and feeding into the consultation. This is a multi-million investment that has the potential to transform the city centre, which is good for our businesses and great for shoppers and visitors. There is a lot at stake.”
To enable the work to be carried out safely, additional fencing and acoustic screening to reduce noise will be installed. There will be security staff on site to ensure the safety of all those taking part in the operation, and any pedestrians in the area. Armada Way will remain open during the day for shoppers. After 6pm the western footpath will be closed, along with Place de Brest.
After the felled trees have been removed, the Council will ensure that the area is cleaned-up, including litter, before the removal of the fencing.
During the clean-up, the trees that have not been felled, including the 20 covered by the legal injunction, will be protected.
The larger trunks that have been felled are being proposed for reuse. The remnants of the remaining felled trees will be chipped onsite and chippings will be stored temporarily before being sent to parks and allotments across the city.
For more information about the Armada Way scheme, go to www.plymouth.gov.uk/armada-way