Council will today debate cutting Armada Trees down following 10k petition

Campaigners say today's meeting is 'crunch time for the trees!'

Trees in Armada Way, where regeneration work is planned
Author: Andrew KayPublished 30th Jan 2023

There'll be a debate later after 10,000 people signed a petition to save trees in Plymouth.

Campaigners say while they welcome the multi-million regeneration, they oppose the existing city centre trees in Armada Way being cut down and the plans should be altered to protect them.

The council meeting starts at 2pm

There is a also a motion by councillor Stephen Hulme asking the council to 'record its dissatisfaction with the lack of public engagement on the public realm works in Armada Way'

Also on the agenda is a call to actively protect the important and famous existing use of the name Drake'. The sir Francis Drake Motion says: "Plymouth is a proud maritime city that has seen many famous explorers and seafarers sail from her shores, none more famous than Sir Francis Drake. From 1577 to 1580, Drake led what became known as his circumnavigation of the globe – the first Englishman to do so – on board his ship, the Golden Hind, which sailed from and returned to Plymouth. Drake achieved many more notable events, including defeating the Spanish Armada after playing bowls on Plymouth Hoe. Such feats are famous historical events and of prominence worldwide, but especially here in Plymouth. Drake’s place in history and his name is synonymous with Plymouth and is recognised with his statue on the Hoe, Drake Ward, Drake’s Mall, Drake’s Island and much more. Our proud history and heritage is important and valued and must be protected for future generations. "

There is also an 'NHS Motion' today, which says: "any Plymouth residents and their families will have been affected by the ongoing disputes in the Plymouth National Health Service whether as patients or as employees. It urges the council to 'Express our disappointment at the Government’s lacklustre approach to resolving the current disputes with Nurses and Ambulance staff' and 'acknowledge the ongoing significant challenges locally to continuing to recruit and retain nurses in Plymouth'. It finishes with a request to: "Call on the Conservative Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care to set-out his position on the current industrial action within the NHS and what he is doing to influence Plymouth’s Members of Parliament and the Government to resolve the current disputes."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.