Today (13 November 2024), a High Court Judge dismissed legal action brought by the campaign group Straw. This latest legal challenge comprised of allegations that the Council breached a legal injunction and did not allow sufficient time for any challenge to be commenced. The Council refuted the allegations at a preliminary hearing in July and the Judge has today agreed and dismissed the application.
Responding to the judgement, Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of the Council said: “We are finally able to put the matter of the Armada Way felling of the trees to rest.
“It has been frustrating that over the past year, Ali White and Straw have continued to challenge the previous administration’s approach to the felling of the trees through the courts. Each time they have been unsuccessful in their legal action. Each time it has cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds.
“Since the start of this process, we have been clear that it was never in the city’s best interests to argue the rights and wrongs of a decision that was subsequently scrapped and we are pleased that all the live legal action has now concluded.
“We know that there are some lessons to be learnt, and as we promised the Court earlier this year, we will be holding an independent learning review. We will now move forward with commissioning experts to lead this piece of work, working with SOLACE to identify professionals with relevant experience. We will provide an update shortly as this work will commence asap.
“It is now in the best interests of the city to put all our efforts and focus on sorting out Armada Way. We all need to move forward and create a city centre we can all be proud of, rather than dwelling in the past.
“Work has now started on the new design for Armada Way and will pick up pace over the next few months.”