ANGRY residents have stepped up their long-running campaign to turn a piece of wasteland into a community garden.

Campaigners have been battling for 10 years to save the abandoned Clouston Street "playing fields" in North Kelvinside, Glasgow.

As reported in the Evening Times, a proposal to turn the substantial site into an £850,000 sports facility, as well as new flats, fell through two years ago.

Since then residents have been fighting Glasgow City Council's latest plan to sell off the land to developers New City Vision.

The council insist the sale of the land to property developers is already advanced and that 115 new homes will be built on the site.

They say a small park is part of the developer's plan and that some of the cash raised will be used to fund a new football facility in the area.

However, those who live in the surrounding streets are demanding the sale is abandoned after a recent survey, conducted by resident Douglas Peacock, suggested no one wanted to see the land used for new homes.

Instead, locals are behind Mr Peacock's ambitious proposal to transform the area into allotments, a community orchard, meadow, play area, woodland walk and cycle track.

Financial Manager Mr Peacock, 44, who has lived in Sanda Street for 11 years, said: "As far as we are concerned the council has sold local people out.

"They are trying to kill off our community spirit, but they won't succeed.

"We are prepared to develop, run and manage the site ourselves. This is such a great opportunity for the people of this area to enjoy a greener, healthier lifestyle so we won't give up the fight, we'll take it all the way."

Fiona Rintoul, 41, who lives in Mingarry Street, added: "People in this neighbourhood are right behind Douglas's plan.

"To have such a community resource on our doorstep would be fantastic.

"This is not the right time to be building even more new flats in Glasgow.

"And in the present financial climate I can't see that it will actually happen, so the council should let us get on with transforming the site."

A council spokesman said: "The sale of site has already been agreed and we are going through the legal details with New City Vision Ltd.

"New City Vision had most support at the community consultation day which the council held.

"The sale of the site is being used to fund the construction of a new playing facility at the corner of Queen Margaret Drive and Maryhill Road."