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Terry McTernan, chairman of Ferguslie Community Council, has called on the local authority to speed up the planned demolition of the buildings, arguing they have become a magnet for fly-tippers and criminality.
He told the Express: “These photographs very powerfully demonstrate what is now a mammoth problem.
“The fly-tipping here is on an industrial scale and David has shown there is a barely a square metre of space that hasn’t been strewn with rubbish, set on fire or littered with smashed glass.
“The council has told us they are not able to speed up the demolition due to multi-agency involvement, ecological surveys and bat surveys, etc.
“If that’s the case then we need temporary solutions.”
He added: “The reality is that the fly-tipping is now mammoth in scale and it is having a profound impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing and the sense of community in
Ferguslie.
“I also have a very genuine concern that someone is going to be seriously hurt.
“There are now people using drugs in these properties, people pulling off the metal coverings – which are supposed to protect the properties – for scrap mental, there’s the fly-tipping and other criminal activity.
“It’s absolutely devastating to a community which has worked so hard to improve its environment and challenge these kinds of behaviours for the past four years.”
Renfrewshire Council recently confirmed it is currently seeking a contractor to demolish the remaining 175 homes on Drums Avenue, Ferguslie Park Avenue, Tannahill Road and Tannahill Terrace.
Many of the properties – which previously housed the residents of the new build homes on the site of the former St Fergus Primary School – have lain empty for up to eight years.
It is understood the planned demolition works will go to the Leadership Board for approval in June, with an ambition to start the works in mid to late summer.
Renfrewshire
Council first committed to demolish 248 homes in the Tannahill and Ferguslie area in 2016 as part of proposal for the mass regeneration of the estates there.
The plans included the build of Ferguslie Sports
Centre and new homes. Work continues to find uses for the remaining derelict sites in the community.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of instances of fly tipping in the area and our teams have been carrying out regular patrols and inspections of discarded items to inform investigations to help identify who has dumped waste illegally, before uplifting the rubbish.
“Council officers are also currently exploring additional measures which could be used to help tackle fly tipping in the area.
“Fly-tipping is illegal, damages the environment and creates an unsightly mess in our communities. Anyone who sees instances of fly-tipping or finds dumped waste should report it to us online or call 0300 300 0300, so we can inspect the area and arrange for the waste to be removed.
“The first phase of demolition has been completed at the Tannahill properties and preparatory works for the next stage are currently underway.
“Following a procurement process, a contract for the next phase is expected to be awarded in the summer with demolition likely to commence shortly thereafter.”