The famous Barbican cobbles will remain on the West Pier after thousands of people urged the council to keep them in their original place.
Outrage was sparked after it emerged that the council had plans to remove a large patch of cobbles from the pier and move them elsewhere.
More than 4,664 people signed the petition to 'stop Plymouth City Council from removing the cobbles' as part of the West Pier's transformation, which hopes to preserve, protect and strengthen it for next 100 years.
Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council, has now announced that the cobbles will be restored after "listening to what has been said".
He said: “The Council has to repair West Pier so it does not collapse into the sea and to do that vital work we need to lift the cobbles.
"The plan was to re-lay the cobbles nearby on the Barbican but over the last few days it has been made abundantly clear to me that people want to see the cobbles put straight back on West Pier once repairs have been made.
"I have listened to what has been said and I have made it clear to the project team that the cobbles must remain on West Pier – and they will.”
The historic pier, which is home to the Mayflower Steps, looks set to get a major make-over which will "shine a spotlight on the globally significant space as well as enable the city to make more of the incredible world-changing journeys that started from Plymouth".
What residents said
Many Barbican workers and residents were furious after hearing the news, according to the owner of Southside Street Art2Frame Glass Gallery.
Ian Nicholls, 61 was shocked to find out that part of the programme would aim to repave the area around the 'Barbican Prawn'.
"Surely the cobbles are what the Barbican is? You can't just remove it," he said. "The cobbles have always been there. Isn't that part of the charm?
"I've been here a long time and there has been cobbles for as long as I can remember.
"I think the majority of people down here on the Barbican would be shocked to hear they're being removed.
"I'm all for moving forward and modern architecture, but it's crazy to think if they do this to West Pier then next time there is works, they'll do it again.
"The one thing they always go on about is the history of Plymouth. I had some German customers in today and they were asking all sorts of questions, they couldn't believe that the council or a body of any sort could be happy to remove some of its past.
"I just think the cobbles have been there for as long as the Mayflower steps if you like, and I've seen it written that we have the highest concentration of cobbles in Britain."
The gallery owner, who has been on the Barbican for 20 years and five years in his current shop, continued: "I'm not in this to cause problems, my point is that if the council goes ahead and do what they want to do then they [the cobbles] will be gone. They'll be eradicated.
"Surely the cobbles are something the Americans don't have? And to suddenly have [the Mayflower Steps] plonked on the end of a modern pavement?"
"It's exasperating."
Jessica Reynolds commented on the petition: "Another great move by PCC.. How can they even think about removing a partner the barbican character and heritage.
"This is the council that have invited Costa Coffee to virtually take over our city..the council that are so shortsighted, greedy and care nothing about Plymouth. Say NO to removing the cobbles!!"
Mike Millard-Hurst, from Perth, Australia: "Plymouth is my hometown with the Barbican being one of its finest historical assets. People don’t come to see the beautiful paved streets, they come to look at the hundreds of year old cobbled ones!"
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