Workmen trashed my garden, says Susan

Council insists contractors will clear up mess

A homeowner says contractors carrying out council works at her block have trashed her garden.

Susan Hay, 62, claims she was left injured after tripping over builders’ gear strewn outside her flat.

She told how plants, pots and ornaments were damaged under piles of cement, stones and tools.

Susan says she has been left footing the bill.

She said: “The builders just dumped their stuff on top of all my planters.

“There were p i l e s o f construction material everywhere. They weren’t even cleaning up after themselves and there were stones everywhere. “I slipped on a pile of them and ended up falling. What they’ve done is destructive and dangerous and they shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.”

Renfrewshire Council commissioned contractors to render the building in Linwood’s Cowal Drive.

They carried out improvement works after being given the go-ahead by the majority of the block’s tenants.

Susan is the sole homeowner in the building and tried to fight construction.

But she has been ordered to cough- up around £ 3,000 after the upgrade was voted through.

Susan told how ornaments and plant pots have been smashed and fences dumped on top of shrubs and blooms.

She added: “It beggars belief they couldn’t see they were crushing the flowers.

“I should be able to sit outside and enjoy the nice weather.

“But my garden has been completely ruined by these works.

“My heart breaks every time I look outside and see the mess they’ve made.”

Debris has been left littered around the garden after the works last week.

Susan has demanded the local authority compensate her for the damage caused.

Renfrewshire Council says workers will try and put the garden back together.

A spokesman said: “We pride ourselves on providing a highquality housing repair service and that all works are carried out safely.

“We have visited the homeowner and assessed the external property.

“Scaffolding and rubbish bags are ready for uplift and we have asked the contractor to remove these within the next few days.

“We a p p re c i a t e that roughcasting can spread across the garden during the rendering works and make every effort to ensure the site is left clear at night.

“We have an agreement with all our contractors to reinstate gardens to their previous condition and make good any damage, which will be carried out as soon as possible once all works are fully completed.

“We have also arranged for a liaison officer to visit the homeowner to discuss the rendering works.”