Glasgow residents fume at lack of action on fly-tipping site

Glasgow Times

2 days ago

Parkhouse locals are furious after having spent over a decade asking for a cleanup.
Despite this, site owner Reigart Contracts Ltd and the council have both failed to act on the old railway site next to Claddens Street.
Community council members Kenny Nisbet and Dorothy McFarland have both lived in the area for more than five decades and say inaction is unacceptable.
Dorothy McFarland and Kenny Nisbet (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns)
Glasgow residents fume at lack of action about fly-tipping site (Image: Colin Mearns)
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Mr Nisbet said: "It's absolutely disgusting and nothing is being done about it.
"Nobody is taking responsibility. They say it's the locals who are leaving objects here.
"We've never denied that residents are dumping as well but it's the landowner's duty to clean it up.
"I regularly see vans pulling up, throwing stuff over the fence and driving away.
"It's shocking. If we were to try and sell out homes and a potential buyer saw that, they would never want to move here."
The 75-year-old spoke to the Glasgow Times two years ago about his concerns and nothing has changed since.
Couches, bicycles, rubbish bags, chairs, tires and more items are left in the area.
His main concern is the dumping of unidentified substances.
He explained: "One of the instances I witnessed was men dumping a lot of white powder, which spilled all over a parapet and pavement.
"I am not a chemist and I don't know what it was but it's definitely concerning.
"I wouldn't touch it."
(Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns)
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Members of Parkhouse Community Council feel like they are "banging their head against a wall" trying to get help.
After several site visits, emails, letters and meetings with council officials, politicians and representatives of Reigart, nothing has been done.
Ms McFarland explained: "It's just a shame. And it's much, much worse in the autumn, when all the leaves and branches are down and you can see the extent of the problem.
"I have been to a multi-agency meeting and an official from Reigart promised they would do something, weather permitting.
"But every time they come out, it's springtime and they just can't see how bad it really is."
The land was purchased by Reigart and was left undeveloped. Before the sale, it was in use as a railway line.
It is understood that the firm planned to build housing on the land but no proposal has been submitted yet.
(Image: Colin Mearns)
(Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns)
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A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: 'Fly-tipping has unfortunately been a long-standing issue at this disused railway line in the Parkhouse area.
'It appears that a number of residents in adjoining properties dump waste from their gardens into the former railway cutting and waste is also fly-tipped at other points along this space.
'Due to the steep embankment and the thick overgrowth, removing fly-tipped waste from this site raises highly challenging health and safety risks for staff.
'However, we have previously worked with the major owner of the site to remove waste from the railway line and would do so again in future.
'We will continue to engage with residents to ensure their waste is disposed of properly.
'Where evidence is secured that identifies those responsible for any fly-tipping incident, including eye witness accounts, we will take enforcement action.'
Reigart Contracts Ltd was contacted for comment.