A LAND dispute has erupted between a group of green-fingered residents and a government agency after they were told to clear a plot of land which they transformed from a flytipping hotspot into an flower garden.

Forestry and Land Scotland have urged a number of Drumchapel residents to vacate land the residents believe they own, after the group of neighbours transformed a flytipping hotspot into raised beds for flowers and vegetable planting.

Forestry and Land Scotland is now investigating the boundaries of the land used by the residents of Foswell Place, Drumchapel, following uncertainty over who actually owns the plot.

Gardener Eddie Poole received a letter from the agency on May 19 instructing him to remove his property from the land, claiming it was to be restored to its previous state.

Eddie has provided photos of the land before it was revamped, where it appears to be overgrown.

He says he and his neighbours, who reside at Foswell Place, own the land, as illustrated in their missives.

A keen gardener and owner of two dogs, Eddie previously decided to partner up with a group of his neighbours to transform the plot into raised beds in a bid to put off flytippers who regularly dumped mattresses, trolleys, household waste and couches.

He said: “We decided to make use of the land. We had already built a gate onto the land which we are led to believe we own, so we could take our dogs straight onto the fields.

“The land was a dump and we have made good use of it. If the Scottish Government owned it then why are the trees overhanging and why was it left as waste ground?

“Truly, I think an inspector has come out to survey the land which they do own and backs onto it and he’s got confused but as it was Cruden Homes who owned this land.

“I received a letter telling me to ‘vacate immediately’, as if I was living on it. Anyway, I sent them an email asking for some clarity and didn’t think much of it as I assumed they would recognise their mistake.

“Then they responded with a whole legality spiel and acting like the big dogs, trying to bully me into shifting when it’s actually our land.

“So I’ve told them I’ll vacate when they pay me remuneration for tidying the land since they say Glasgow City Council were supposed to be responsible for this and they’ve said they’re now going to double check. I suspect they’ve made a blunder and I’ll be keeping my raised beds as they are.”

A spokesperson for Forestry and Land Scotland, said: “As far as we know, the piece of ground in question is part of a larger area that we manage and that is leased from Glasgow City Council.

“However, following discussion with the local residents – who have a different view – we are now checking the boundaries with the council.

“We are always happy to discuss with communities and organised groups, plans for projects on areas of land that we manage and we look forward to this situation being resolved amicably.”