2 days ago
Glasgow council 'fails to enforce law' on dump site years on
The railway cutting in North Glasgow, behind Claddens Street, has been a fly-tipping site for more than two decades, causing a headache for locals.
Emails obtained exclusively through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that the council has been in communication with Reigart Contracts Ltd - the owner of the site - since September 2017.
Kenny Nisbet and Dorothy McFarland (Image: Colin Mearns) Glasgow council fails to enforce law on dump site years on (Image: Newsquest)
(Image: Colin Mearns)
The local authority first threatened to enforce Section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act of 1990 on February 8, 2018, saying it would make the move the next week.
According to this law, the council can serve a notice to the occupier of the land to clean up the waste.
Four days later, a Reigart representative called this action "unnecessary" and asked for a phone call.
After this, there was a discussion between the parties about a cleanup.
However, those who live in the area claim this never happened.
The emails also revealed that council employees repeatedly admitted the dumping had "become an issue" and locals were pushing for action.
Throughout this exchange, officials also stated they are keen to "maintain positive dialogue" with the firm.
Since then, the local authority has also attempted to get in touch with the company multiple times without success.
Residents are outraged at the lack of follow-through and say the emails are an "absolute waste of time and money" without any results.
Parkhouse Community Council member Kenny Nisbet said: "It's just ridiculous. For 20 years, we have been going on about this.
"We have been trying for a long time but they kept refusing to do it.
"The maddening thing is, the company is not even based in Glasgow, they are from Coatbridge."
In 2024, in an email to Mr Nisbet, an environmental health officer said the team has "taken the decision to also look at alternative solutions to enforcement for the disused railway".
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'It's appalling': Residents fume at lack of action on historic fly-tipping site
(Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) The community council has been asking for a proper cleanup for decades and said they feel like "hitting their heads off a brick wall" trying to force the council to serve the notice, which they are legally entitled to do.
Mr Nisbet, a resident of more than 50 years, confirmed he has submitted several complaints to the council about the handling of the case and has contacted six local politicians and several public health groups and organisations.
A major worry of the group is that, along with household items such as wardrobes, garbage and pieces of furniture, unknown and potentially dangerous substances are also being left at the site.
When the Glasgow Times visited the area, which is a former railway cutting, it was littered with dumped objects, including an ironing board, a scooter, Christmas trees and more.
(Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns)
A 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 understand the ambition of the major owner is to develop the site for housing but we are unaware of any proposals at this stage.
'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.'
