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Clean-up of Armada Way has begun

Date

The stumps of the felled trees in Armada Way are being removed and heras fencing will be further pulled back this week, as part of the new administration’s push to clear up the city centre.

As per the High Court order, the Council passed on a revised methodology to the claimant in the legal case, outlining how we will carefully and safely begin the clean-up of the Armada Way ‘mess’.

The first phase is the removal of the felled tree stumps from the footways between the sections on Mayflower Street / Cornwall Street and New George Street / Cornwall Street, tarmacking and the further pulling back some of the heras fencing.

Following consideration by the claimant, the Council has begun work today (Thursday 29 June) and is expecting to finish tomorrow.

Leader of Plymouth City Council, Councillor Tudor Evans said: “We took control of the Council just last month and since then we have been pushing forward to take control of Armada Way and sort out the current mess.

“I know that local traders are frustrated at the length of time it is taking to clean it up and the impact it is having on their businesses. I absolutely share their sense of frustration. We have already created the cut through in the fencing, enabling people to access the shops more easily and I was always clear that the removal of the stumps should take place well before the summer holidays.

“By removing the stumps, we will be able to further pull back the fencing, enabling even more space and access to shops.

“We have said we are going to sort out the city centre and we will.”

To ensure that the approach complies with the injunction handed down by the High Court, the methodology report was written by an independent ecologist and takes into account the claimants’ feedback from an earlier report. 

The revised methodology includes:

  • Two ecologists carrying out a nesting bird check before work starts to mark features where active nests are suspected within retained trees and the stacks
  • All stumps are to be processed in a methodical manner outside of an agreed buffer zone
  • Heras fencing to be moved by hand under supervision of ecologists
  • The ecologists providing very clear briefing to all contractors on site, covering legislation and proposed methodology. This entails making sure everyone is aware of locations of any known or suspected active bird nests and the necessary protective measures when setting up machinery points

The work will entail grinding down the tree stumps in situ using a stump grinding machine. All stumps and chippings will be moved to the tipper vans using a wheelbarrow.

The works will take place between 5pm – 9pm. Normally, construction work of this nature would take place over night. However, due to concerns raised on the night of the initial felling, the Leader of the Council has requested that the removals take place during the day.

The Council will install acoustic fencing around the grinding machines, to minimise the noise. There will be additional measures to reduce the amount of flying debris.

Tomorrow morning (Friday), contractors will return to the site to carry out tarmacking, making the area safe for the public. When this is done, the barriers will be pulled back further. This work will also be supervised by an ecologist.

Councillor Evans added: “We heard loud and clear that people want these works to happen during the daytime and not at night. We know that there is high public interest in Armada Way. Therefore, we will not do this work over night. I have asked officers to take all available measures to minimise the impact on nearby businesses and residents and ensure that as soon as the stumps are removed, fencing is pulled back, along with the necessary street cleansing.

“This is another step forward. We will open-up Armada Way.”

Given the legal injunction is still in place and the bird nesting season is now well and truly underway, the felled trees have to remain for the time being.

More information about Armada Way: www.plymouth.gov.uk/armada-way