LANDOWNERS whose fields were damaged by West Dunbartonshire Council contractors who accessed the land without permission believe they should be compensated by the local authority.

Graham Parton and his partner Susan Dick, who are caught up in negotiations with the council over the ownership of land at Milton, say workers entered their land to carry out work on at least three occasions without a prior agreement.

The council who want to acquire the land at Milton as part of the Exxon deal say that permission was granted on all but one occasion. They are now offering the couple the chance to submit an insurance claim.

The issue was brought before a full council meeting last week.

Mr Parton said: “A few weeks ago and not for the first time more contractors have accessed our land seemingly under the impression that it belonged to West Dunbartonshire Council.

“They have actually dug up our road, which is private, destroyed trees and fencing and dumped rubble onto the field. We have confirmation that this was caused by the council after initial denial.

“There have as mentioned above been other occasions when either damage has been caused by your contractors or contractors have been on our land without prior notification and of course surveys have also been carried out without our prior knowledge or consent.”

SNP councillor Iain McLaren said that access to the site had been granted by Mr Parton on a number of occasions.

Mr McLaren said that following subsequent enquiries the council’s roads section did enter the site while carrying out work to the National Cycle Route 7.

He said: “Mr Parton and Ms Dick would prefer to submit an insurance claim rather than repair work carried out and an insurance form has been sent out which should be with them by close of play today. (Wednesday, May 26).

“I offer my apologies for this and wish to assure them that spoils have been removed. The roads section has also confirmed that this is the only time unauthorised access has taken place on the land and they fully admit this is an error.

“We are working with the fully on the insurance claim. If there are any additional instances Mr Parton wishes to highlight to our asset coordinator or the Exxon project manager then a meeting can be arranged to discuss this further.”

Ms Dick and Mr Parton contested these claims and said that permission had only been granted on two occasions for the soil testing and topographical survey.

Ms Dick said: “There were at least three other occasions when the council were on the land without permission.

“We made it quite clear that the spoils were not to be removed so if they have been I will be quite angry. Our preferred method is not insurance.

“Should compensation not be offered at this point rather than the gamble of an insurance claim? We don’t want any contractors on our land doing any repairs. We don’t trust what has been done here.

“Liability has been admitted here. I really feel compensation is the way forward.”

A written response will be sent to Mr Parton within seven working days.