‘Greenwash’ protest

Campaigners are trying to prevent Plymouth city council chopping down more than 130 mature trees as part of a £12.7m investment project along a popular walkway in the city centre.

Alison White, who is running the campaign, wants the council to rethink the plans. She and other locals say removing the trees is not necessary to enhance the area and their loss will affect the environment and people’s wellbeing.

The council plans to plant saplings to replace the mature trees, but campaigners say this is “greenwash” as the trees will not mature for 30 years.

White told Plymouth Live: “I was shocked to hear about how so many of the beautiful and well established trees in town were to be chopped down as part of the regeneration of Armada Way.”

Her petition now has more than 3,000 signatures from people who agree “these trees are the green lungs of our city”.

She also has the support of the local Labour MP Luke Pollard, who said: “The council should begin a proper round of public consultation on their plans.”

A spokesperson for the council said the plans would produce “a significant biodiversity gain in the region of 22%”. In total, almost 150 new trees will be planted.