'Frustration' at Renfrewshire park left to fall into disrepair
Clyde View Park has 'fallen to tatters' after being transferred to new owners
A campaign has been launched to bring a Renfrewshire park - which has been allowed to "fall to tatters" - back to life for the local community.
Residents in Ferry Village have seen the popular Clyde View Park decline over the last year.
The area was formerly neat, clean and well-used by many in nearby flats and particularly during the pandemic.
When walking through it at present, you will be met with overgrown grass, padlocked play equipment, and broken railings.
The ponds are stagnant, dog walkers complain of ticks due to the long grass, and its become a hotspot for littering and fly tipping.
'It's a complete mess'
Chris Quinn is a local resident who says there is widespread frustration in the community.
He said: "It's really bad, there was stuff being dumped in the ponds, which are now stagnant and have algae in them - they stink as well, to be honest.
"I actually went into the ponds and removed some debris, cones, for sale signs, stuff to just get it out and tidy it up a bit, but the grass is also so long now.
"There's been two incidents reported, probably in the last two weeks of people's dogs coming back with ticks, after being in the park with them, so we're actually looking at just putting notices on the entrances just now.
"The wildlife has diminished, so it's just a complete mess from what it was a couple of years ago.
"The concern is now if people are using the space and its amenities and something does go wrong, who is responsible if we can't identify the owners?
"People want to keep the park open, but at the same time it's got to be safe, and somebody's got to have that responsibility.
"If they own that asset they should be maintaining it and keeping it in good working order."
How did this happen?
People living in the area had been paying their factors to keep the area maintained - as laid out in title deeds for the properties surrounding the park.
However, once the land ownership changed hands, the maintenance contract was terminated.
The park was initially owned by Braehead Park Estates, which went into liquidation and sold a package of assets in an auction.
The package included various estates including office blocks and strips of land.
Now, a 'Friends of Clyde View Park' Facebook page has been started to identify who owns the area and ask them to take action.
However, because local people have the space mentioned in their property title deeds, the Scottish Land Registry has thousands of hits.
'They're seeing it fall into tatters'
Renfrewshire councillor Jamie McGuire has been a key player in the Friends of Clyde View Park campaign.
He said: "One of the reasons that many residents tell me they moved to Ferry Village in the first place was because it was so picturesque.
"They could walk down alongside the water, they had green space within the Clyde View Park and now they're seeing it all fall into tatters.
"The playpark is locked up, the pond is absolutely filthy, the grass hasn't been cut in months and it's just in a state of disrepair right now - it's really sad to see.
"That's why I think so many residents have gotten involved with the campaign, because residents can remember the way things used to be.
"That doesn't need to be a relic of the past, that can be the future again if we fight for it and that is what we're doing.
"We are in contact with one of the factors who is going to use their contacts and network to try and identify who is in charge of each area and be an overarching manager of the space, essentially."
'It is disappointing to see'
Local MSP Natalie Don has also been working alongside the register to identify the correct title deed and make contact with the new owners to find a positive solution.
She said: "It is disappointing to see the decline in maintenance of Clydeview Park following the sale of the land, which has had a negative impact on the amenity it provides to the community, especially around Ferry Village.
“Over the years, there has been several stakeholders and third parties involved with the park and it’s maintenance. In this most recent case, it appears that the previous landowners of the park, fell into administration and no provision has been in place to maintain it since, as a result of the complexities around park ownership.
“I have been contacted by a number of constituents regarding this complex situation and have been working hard to get more information and answers from the relevant stakeholders that I have written to on behalf of concerned residents.
"We believe we have now identified the relevant title which is at the application stage of the land registration process. I will continue to push for a longer-term resolution to be found, which ensures the future maintenance of Clydeview Park, including refuse collection, grass cutting, and open ground works.”