'English Riviera' palm trees chopped down by council as residents rage
Locals have reacted with fury after iconic palms that have welcomed visitors to the ‘English Riviera’ for a century were chopped down ‘without warning’.
The felling of the trees by the council in a seafront public garden in Torquay, Devon, has left a “stark scene” that has provoked public outcry according to residents and visitors.
The beloved palms have stood in the Italian Gardens, which look out over Torre Abbey Sands, since they were first planted in 1924. But dozens of them have now been felled by Torbay Council as part of the restoration of the gardens ahead of its 100th anniversary next year.
The council said they had showed signs of ‘significant’ degradation in the last 20 years and the work was carried out by its contractors to upgrade the site.
But locals have been left stunned after pictures showed 40 trees chopped down to just their stump - and described them as “synonymous” with Torbay. They were one of the reasons the area is widely known as the English Riviera.
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One person said they were “disgusted” and “devastated” at the felling. Another described the act as “pure vandalism”.
They added: “Soul destroying wanton and criminal. There appears to be an agenda against our much loved palm trees - Torbay’s iconic and symbolic image.”
Another wrote: “There is no scenario or even universe, where felling palm trees is a good thing. Soulless council unfit for purpose.” Another local commented: “Trees are special for all sorts of reasons. Those palms are synonymous with Torbay.”
Someone who was born in Torquay and recalled “many happy childhood days on the beach and on the green”, said the chopping down of the palm trees “saddens” them.
They said the trees were sentimental to the town, and added: “To see the palm trees have been CHOPPED down saddens me as that is what Torquay was all about.
“It was famous for its palms and visitors always enjoyed walking through the lovely gardens with the palms above them. It’s going to look pretty bare now.”
Another local added: “Absolutely beyond words for the total destruction. How can they justify doing this?” Many people expressed anger that there was no consultation from the council on the decision - with one stating “sometimes people advocating change seem to operate with a bludgeon”.
Someone wrote: “No public consultation, nothing from the Tory Council leaders. “Apparently this was done in the dead of night just like they did in Plymouth.”
Torbay Council said 40 trees had been felled but more would be planted in the restoration. A council spokesman added the trees had “significantly degraded” over the last 20 years.
Public consultation in 2019 identified the Italian Gardens as a priority for restoration, but the scheme had been delayed ever since. The spokesperson added: “With the 100th anniversary of the gardens being next year, it felt timely to make the changes. This did unfortunately mean the removal of the palm trees, which after inspection showed significant signs of decline.”
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The garden will be transformed over the winter and into the spring, with more planting promised too, by the council. Local councillor Adam Billings said he shared people’s “frustrations” that the council had not reminded the public about the plans.
He added: “You can appreciate if you were in my shoes, you’d be equally disappointed. It’s clearly not the standard that our local community or indeed the cabinet member expects of the council.”
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