THE National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has refuted claims that a patch of land behind Helensburgh’s Hill House used during construction of the box project has become an “unofficial landfill site”.

A resident who lives in Upper Colquhoun Street contacted the Advertiser last week to reveal his dismay at the waste left over following completion of the building work.

The resident, who asked not to be identified, claimed that workers had failed to clear up a pile of rubble and plastic material from the car park area, instead dumping it in the woodlands and damaging trees in the process.

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He said: “We live in Upper Colquhoun Street and we have had to put up with months of construction noise.

“When I walked past and saw the mess they had made that was the final straw. It’s wholly unacceptable.

“How anyone is giving them permission to do that I’ll never know, it’s an eyesore. It’s an unofficial landfill site now.”

The resident said he regularly walks his dog through the area and was disappointed to see the state of the site.

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He added: “The way they just pushed trees out the way to dump this stuff is disgusting. If we did that the council would come out and pull us up for it. But they are just turning a blind eye to this.

“It’s galling enough that we have to look at that ugly metal box.

“We had months of construction traffic running up and down past our house.

“It’s certainly not good for their [NTS] image. They have spent millions upgrading this building and then go and do that, it’s not on really.”

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However, the NTS has rejected the suggestion of malpractice, saying all soil has now been restored or cleared away from the area of the car park where the site office was while the project was underway.

Richard Williams, general manager for Glasgow and the West, said: “We really appreciate the support and understanding of the local community as we’ve carried out this pioneering project to protect a Helensburgh landmark.

“There is still a bit of tidying up to do in the car park area, particularly removing the last storage areas and some waste.

“Continued tidying, re-seeding and work to the car park area is ongoing this month, and the groundwork contractor remains on site to take care of this.”