Landowners John Filshie and William Cullen could have their land bought by Argyll and Bute Council using a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), after councillors agreed last month to start proceedings in a bid to finish the path linking Helensburgh and Cardross.

However, the men claim they have been willing to negotiate with the council and sell their land for almost a decade.

Mr Cullen said he is keen to see the work completed as it would make travel for his daughter Fiona more comfortable.

Mr Cullen, from Mollandhu Farm, said: “It would actually make my life easier. I have a disabled daughter, and the current footpath between Helensburgh and Cardross is in a right state. The new path would make it easier to get along with a wheelchair. It’s not the land owners, it’s the council that is not negotiating with us.” On more than one occasion, they say they have been ready to sign an agreement, only for the council to pull out due to either lack of funding or redesign of the path, which has caused the project to stall.

Mr Filshie, of Lyleston Farm, said: “It’s been going on for too long. I’ve let them in at any time – for them to do the drawings, or surveys. The plans keep disappearing, every time we hear from them it’s a new idea. Every time they phone it’s costing them money, I’ve never disagreed to it. It would be six or seven years ago, we were waiting to sign up to it – but it disappeared again.” Mr Cullen added: “They came back a year past in March asking if they could get in to do the drawings. We accepted the drawings, but there was an issue about drainage which we raised. That was last November, and we’ve had no contact since. Now they will CPO the land.

“There was no discussion of price, the council are not negotiating with us. I’m losing three acres.” Mr Cullen also said the farmers ‘didn’t even know when the meeting was’ to discuss the CPO, as there has been no correspondence from the council for nearly eight months.

Eddie Henderson, of Henderson’s Chartered Surveyors, the agent for Mr Cullen and Mr Filshie, said: “They are a bit peeved that they are being seen as the obstacle. They are concerned that they are being portrayed inaccurately. Why the council would do this and waste resources and money on CPOs when there has been very amicable discussion for several years, I don’t know.

“The plans have been shelved at the councils request on more than one occasion – for redesign or lack of funding – which the farmers have co-operated with.” Councillor Ellen Morton, depute leader of the council and policy lead for roads, told the Advertiser: “I certainly can’t comment on individual land owners, but I hope that the negotiation can reach a satisfactory conclusion. I genuinely believe that this will be a significant benefit, which will be used more than any of the other cycle paths, as it is such a busy route.” A council spokesman said it was still looking to negotiate, but failing an agreement a CPO would be pursued.

He added: “For the avoidance of doubt, should the council compulsorily acquire the land, the compensation payable to the owners is likely to be based upon the market value of the land at the time the council takes possession of land together with any consequential losses the owner may suffer.” CPOs must be confirmed by the Scottish Government before they can go ahead. The council’s role would be to prepare the order and ‘formally execute’ it. It is then advertised, the landowners are informed, but they are still able to object, and a public inquiry can be held. The process can take up to a year.

The spokesman added: “With projects of this nature it is normal for plans to evolve, with the final design often being different from the proposals mooted originally.”