Woman ‘horrified’ as West Dunbartonshire Council excavates her land without warning

A woman has been left in “shock and disbelief” after West Dunbartonshire Council began digging up her land just months after agreeing to grant her ownership.

Susan Dick only became aware of activity on her land at Littlemill, near Bowling, when a friend contacted her to say machinery had arrived and a boundary wall was being removed.

Ms Dick, who owns the land outright and holds the legal title, took ownership in July 2024 following an agreement with West Dunbartonshire Council.

“At first we thought it was to do with a fallen tree after recent storms, so I wasn’t too concerned,” she told STV News.

“But when the machinery arrived, and it was clear it wasn’t just that, I was horrified. I couldn’t believe no one had checked with the owner before removing trees and excavating the land.”

The bottom section of the land has been fenced off Susan Dick via Supplied

Susan said as part of her deal, she was required to sell land she owned further along the road to allow a major redevelopment at the nearby former Exxon oil terminal to proceed, which she said she had little choice over due to the threat of compulsory purchase.

The small section of land at Littlemill was transferred to her in exchange and was intended to be used as a memorial garden to re-bury the remains of two ponies.

She said she had been in active discussions with the council about preparing the site for that purpose, including clearing part of the land and erecting fencing, right up until excavation work began without her knowledge.

The land has effectively been occupied for almost a year and has suffered damage.

She said no warning was given ahead of the works and that it took one to two weeks, via her lawyers, for the council to confirm it was responsible.

Susan said the land was to be used as a memorial for her ponies. Susan Dick via Supplied

Despite repeated requests for updates, she said she received no further information until around two weeks ago and still does not know what the work is for or when it will be completed.

“It feels like one department was dealing with me on that, while another department was excavating the top end, and they weren’t speaking to each other,” she said.

“But at the very least, checks should be made to see if you have a legal right to be on land before you send machinery in.

“I can only assume it’s linked to a new road layout, but that’s just a guess.”

Susan with her rescue pony. Susan Dick via Supplied

Ms Dick is now calling for the site to be fully restored, with secure fencing and proper access, so it can be used as a memorial garden.

She is also seeking financial compensation for the distress caused and wants guarantees around the future availability of nearby land she hopes to buy once the wider development is complete, so her remaining ponies can have a permanent home.

“I would like the land restored so it can be a proper memorial garden for the ponies with a secure fence and decent access.

“I feel there should be monetary compensation as well for the distress caused and for the fact that my land has been occupied by them for nearly one year now, and the property has been damaged.

“I have an option to buy land once the wider development is complete, but there is no guarantee of this being realised, so I’d like that to be a guarantee so that my living ponies can once again have a permanent, safe home.

“I have five ponies, most of them elderly and chronically ill,” she said. “They’re expensive and time-consuming to care for, but they have a home for life. One came from a rescue charity and had a terrible life before coming to me.”

West Dunbartonshire Council said efforts were ongoing to restore the land.

A spokesperson said: “The council is in direct contact with Ms Dick and her agents, and we remain committed to working with her to ensure she has use of land which is appropriate to her needs.

“We appreciate her frustrations and are sorry she is not currently able to use the land at Littlemill; however, access is now available, and we are working to restore the wall as soon as practically possible.”