A MEN’s shed group are planning a sit in to stop them being evicted from their premises.

Gorbals Men’s Shed have occupied a railway arch for the last two years but a dispute with New Gorbals Housing Association has led to them being told to leave.

The group say they have been told that their electricity supply is to be disconnected and they are to leave today.

But founding members said they will not leave.

Davie, a founding member of the Gorbals Men’s Shed, said communication with the association which was providing support broke down.

He said: “We have been told to be out on Wednesday morning.”

“Another member, John, said: “We have been told they are coming to evict us. We have funding and can pay for the electricity.”

Davie added: “We have had funding form the city council, the Lottery and charities like the Robertson Trust.

“It has helped pay for tools and equipment and we have put in flooring and done all the work in here.

“We don’t have any water so we bring in water every day in containers.”

He said the Mens Shed supports many vulnerable men and help with mental health and social isolation.

In the arch, near the Citizens Theatre, there is a workshop at the front with work benches, racks of safety equipment including welding masks and protective clothing.

In the back is a seating area with heaters, and cooking facilities.

Davie added: “ We are running workshops, funded by the council.

“We have other funding and we can pay for the electric and other work, but the Housing Association wants us out, even though they don’t own the property, Network Rail does.”

New Gorbals Housing Association has been paying for electricity and said it has been supporting the organisation.

However, it said it is no longer able to do so.

Fraser Stewart, Chief Executive of New Gorbals Housing Association said: “We thought it was a great idea, and we still think so. We are keen to support men at risk of isolation.”

Following meetings that took place in November and subsequent e-mail exchanges the housing association said the relationship has broken down and told the Men’s Shed it could no longer offer its support. It said staff had been exposed to “unacceptable degrees of stress” which it said it “could not allow to continue”

Mr Stewart said: “We are really sorry that the project has failed to flourish, despite our best efforts made in an informal capacity.”

Davie said he would be staying in the premises to prevent any eviction talking place.

He said there was commercial interests behind the decision and the Mens Shed was being sacrificed for development.

Network Rail has informed the housing association and the Men’s Shed it intended to close all of the arches in the block last month.

New Gorbals Housing Association informed the Men’s Shed that it would not longer offer support and it would not be providing electricity.

It informed the Men’s Shed that any tools and equipment should be removed.

Network Rail was unavailable for comment.