We’ve got to clean up this eyesore now Wasteland is ruining conservation area, says Alasdair

A furious homeowner is calling on council bosses to take action over waste ground he claims is blighting a conservation area.

Alasdair Denholm, 44, lives in School Wynd, which is part of Paisley’s historic Oakshaw.

And he claims that the ground next to his block of flats has become so overgrown that trees are actually taking root in his building.

Mr Denholm also says the site is an eyesore and is contrary to the conservation area’s standards.

He said: “I moved here 11 years ago and at the time when I was buying the property I asked about this bit of waste land.

“It wasn’t in the condition it’s in right now.

“There are trees coming out all ways now.

“At the time I was told it had been bought by a property developer and they had plans to make it into flats.”

But since then nothing has happened with the site and Mr Denholm has become more concerned. “It’s basically been left,” he said. “The trees are starting to grow through the back court, coming through the concrete at the back, and there is a trunk of a tree actually attaching itself to the building.”

Mr Denholm contacted Renfrewshire Council in a bid to get help with dealing with the site.

“I asked who owns the land but no-one could seem to answer that,” he said.

“Any time I saw a billboard going up I would contact the estate agent. “But they wouldn’t reply.” Oakshaw’s status as a conservation area means area of land such as this should not exist there, Mr Denholm added.

“This is a conservation area and if you look online at Renfrewshire Council’s own maintenance guide for a conservation area, its does stipulate that the area should be kept in good condition,” he said.

“Renfrewshire Council are talking about extending conservation areas in Paisley.

“But if they are not keeping existing conservation areas in good condition I don’t see why they should be allowed to keep extending this.”

Despite writing to the council and having a visit from two of its officials to the site, nothing has been done about the problem, Mr Denholm, who works in logistics, claimed.

“Basically, I would like to see that piece of land tidied up and in an ideal world you would like to see someone buy it and develop it,” he said.

“But if that’s not going to happen, at least keep it in good condition because for a conservation area this is the centre of Paisley.

“Not only is it an eyesore but it’s actually damaging this building now.”

A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “We are aware of the site and have advised the resident that the land in question is privately owned and that upkeep is the responsibility of the owner.

“The site has previously been secured to prevent access and Renfrewshire Council will contact the owner to remind them of their responsibilities.”

I asked who owned the land but no-one can answer that. It’s an eyesore.