TRESPASSERS used a private Helensburgh residential area as a shortcut while an adjacent stretch of East Clyde Street was closed, a resident has claimed.

June Robertson says that “hundreds” of people were making their way through Tower Place at all hours of the day – and her car was even damaged by cyclists.

East Clyde Street had been closed between Sinclair Street and Maitland Street due to a dangerous building since the end of May, before reopening last Thursday.

June also claims that windows have become thick with dust while work has taken place on the dangerous building – and wants residents to be compensated.

Speaking before East Clyde Street reopened, she said: “No thought has been given to the tenants who live opposite the abandoned building. I can access my own property – and so can the rest of Helensburgh and any area.

“They are trespassing through our private property. We pay for ground maintenance and everybody is trailing through.

“There were two cyclists cutting through just after I got a new car delivered weeks ago, and they rattled it. I haven’t even been out in the car yet.

“There are gates at each end of the property and trespassers should not be there. There are hundreds of them and they are there at all hours of the day.

“Anybody coming down to East Clyde Street is cutting through our property to go to the pier or elsewhere.

“And the place is filthy with dust from the dangerous building. We can’t open the windows and the ledges are dirty. I’m not even dusting them until the work is finished.

“The public purse is being used by the council to put a ruined building together. It should be spent on other things. Why did they not just take the dangerous building down?

“We are paying hefty rates at this property. The residents should be compensated, and so should everybody trying to bring a car along East Clyde Street.”

Argyll and Bute Council leader Aileen Morton advised in a Facebook post last Thursday that East Clyde Street had reopened following work to stabilise the building at numbers five to seven.

A Council spokesperson said: "Trespassing is generally a civil matter but it is disappointing if members of the public are showing a lack of respect for private property, given that there are easily accessible public routes available.

"The dangerous property is in private ownership and the Council had a duty to take steps to protect the public and would encourage the wider community to show respect to nearby residents."