Tory leader who ordered the cutting down of 110 trees in Plymouth city centre ... trends now
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The Tory leader of a council which caused outrage by chopping down over 100 healthy city centre trees in the middle of the night is quitting a week after the 'chainsaw massacre' occurred.
Richard Bingley said he is stepping down as leader of Plymouth City Council, Devon next Monday amid an ongoing backlash over the felling of the trees in Plymouth city centre.
In his resignation speech, the Conservative said: 'I've always said I'm not a full-time politician, I don't seek to be, I'm just an individual who is passionate and ambitious for Plymouth.
'If others feel they can run our glorious Ocean City better, then that's great with me. ''Over to you'', I say.
Plymouth councillor Richard Bingley has resigned from his post days after ordering 110 trees to be chopped down in the middle of the night
The felling of the trees sparked fury from conservationists within and outside the city
Locals slammed the decision by the council to chop down the 110 mature trees
'I urge my successors not to sink back into petty party political infighting as that sad tendency has held back our city for so many years in the past. When good people see that, they soon politely walk away.'
Mr Bingley has not gone into detail about why he is resigning.
But he has come under increasing pressure after signing an executive decision to press ahead with the £12.7million redevelopment of Armada Way, which led to 110 trees being chopped down at night and a subsequent legal battle with protesters.
But he insisted this was the right thing to do and that it would result in a 'wonderful tree-lined zone whereby businesses and cafes and people feel safe'.
Since the trees were cut down earlier just over a week
