Council is facing new legal battle over tree felling

CAMPAIGNERS BRING CASE OF CONTEMPT TO HIGH COURT

- WILLIAM TELFORD

PLYMOUTH City Council is facing another legal battle over its decision to cut down trees in Armada Way. The authority will appear at London’s High Court in October for a contempt of court preliminary civil hearing.

Alison White, of Save the Trees of Armada Way (Straw) has brought the action alleging the authority breached terms of an injunction which prevented it felling all 129 trees in Armada Way in March 2023. The council stressed it will refute the allegations and said it was disappointed to be hauled back before a judge, claiming it will cost taxpayers money.

It comes as Straw learned it would not be able to appeal against the High Court’s dismissal of a judicial review in March. The Court of Appeal will not hear an appeal bid against the lower court’s decision that the council acted lawfully when it ordered the destruction of the trees to make way for a revamp of Armada Way, now likely to cost up to £37m.

But the contempt case has been permitted to go ahead. Straw is claiming the council interfered with the due administration of justice by impeding its ability to legally challenge the treefelling decision in 2023.