Land padlocked by resident due to dog mess to be turned into 'oasis'

Public land, which was locked up by a Glasgow resident after being used as a dog toilet, is set to become a ‘garden oasis’.

A neighbour padlocked the fence around the small grass area in Anderston’s Elderslie Street as it was getting covered in dog mess.

Now Glasgow City Council has pledged £21,384 to turn the patch and a bigger neighbouring piece of ground into a garden, boasting an orchard for people to enjoy.

SNP councillor Angus Millar said: “One of the residents padlocked the underutilised space as they didn’t want it only used as a dog toilet.

“Now the community can take ownership. It will be an enjoyable space to sit and plant food.”

Politicians approved funding for seating, planters, ten fruit trees and a sensory garden on the grass areas adjacent to Glasgow West homes.

And residents are looking forward to the change.

Mum-of-two Bushra Hasan, 45, said: “Older people can’t walk far. They will be able to sit here and see nice scenery in front of their homes.”

Pointing out how the project will empower residents, councillor Christy Mearns, Scottish Greens, said: “There is zero public seating. It is a tight knit community.

“Generations of families call this home. This is about physically unlocking the ground but also unlocking the potential of an underused space.”

Resident Chris Duffy, 31, of the Anderston Green Space Group, said: “This is really good for the community as there is not much here.”

The local politicians approved the funding at the Anderston/City/Yorkhill Area Partnership last week.

Councillor Eva Bolander, SNP, said: “The plot has been brought up as an eyesore ever since I became a councillor.

“It will encourage people to come out and engage in their spaces. It will also help with anti-social behaviour.”

Kate Drummond, a community builder from The Pyramid at Anderston, said a consultation revealed people locally felt there weren’t enough green areas to relax in outside.

Ms Drummond said: “People said ‘we live in flats, we have been isolating – there is very little space around’. People really need this as there are so many flats around here.”

The money for the projects came from the council’s £1.5m Local Parks and Open Space Improvement Fund.

A total of £46,900 was allocated to the Anderston/City/Yorkhill Area Partnership to spend this year.

Other investments in the area will include £9560 on six parklets in the ward, which will see small areas around streets transformed into spaces for people to stop and relax.

A new wildflower meadow at Yorkhill Park, raised beds on Lister Street, and a permanent Christmas tree in Townhead are other parts of the plan.

By local democracy reporter Sarah Hilley