The root of Plymouth’s problems
Image: Geof Sheppard
The root of Plymouth’s problems
As media coverage of the Plymouth city centre tree felling row enters its third day, I’m astonished that the City Council continues to “steadfastly refuse to give interviews.” (Amal Rajan’s words on Radio 4 this morning).
Why, I wonder? In 2018 Plymouth City Council committed £27million to the Better Places project to improve one of the city’s main thoroughfares to reinvigorate the city centre, boosting trade and tourism.
If the city council is proud of its vision, then surely it must demonstrate confidence in its delivery.
The removal of trees was always going to be contentious, but to do it under cover of darkness sends out all the wrong messages.
How different might the scenario have been if the city council had taken a pro-active approach to their communications, keeping the community informed and properly addressing any concerns?
As a child of Plymouth - who later produced an A-level project on the design and delivery of post war Plymouth - and now as a public relations professional dealing in communications around placemaking, this would be my narrative.
The concept designs for Armada Way produced for the Better Places project clearly illustrate how the planting of avenues of native trees will open-up the view of this important green corridor which sweeps from Plymouth railway station to the Hoe. This will reveal the “great vista” originally envisaged by Abercrombie and Watson who designed post-war Plymouth to rise phoenix-like from the ashes of the World War 2 air raids that left the old city centre in ruins.
Sadly, over the past three decades, since Plymouth city centre was pedestrianised, the Abercrombie and Watson design has become choked with inappropriate planting that has become unwieldy and overgrown through lack of proper management.
By removing non-native species and re-planting with avenues of appropriate native trees, the integrity of the Abercrombie and Watson design will be restored, the city centre will be reinvigorated aesthetically and commercially, AND, by planting the right trees in the right place with a long term management plan in place, important green space will be provided for people and for nature, improving biodiversity in the long-term.
Take pride in your vision Plymouth City Council, engage meaningfully with the community and you will have a much better chance of inspiring confidence in your ability to deliver a better future for all.
