A FINNIESTON woman has slammed her factor for “ruining” a communal space that brought neighbours together during the pandemic.

Lawrie Anne Brown began to transform the eyesore land after months of home-working and initial requests to Park Property Management to renovate the site were declined.

The firm said it was happy for Lawrie Anne to place planters onto the common ground, however, a complaint was received after numerous changes were made to the site and - after several requests for the items to be removed - it cleared the area earlier this month. 

However, the 40-year-old insists it became a “community haven” with those living in the Minerva Way complex coming together for the first time – so much so, Lawrie Anne says she spoke with certain neighbours for the first time in her 13 years at her flat.

The homeowner is now embroiled in a bitter dispute with the firm whom, she claims, have “wrecked” the area by removing the items she and her neighbours had invested in the site.

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Lawrie Anne said: “It was a dumping ground. People were dumping all sorts of things there – it was awful.

“They kept saying they couldn’t do anything about it so, I asked if I could take it on and do it up.

“They agreed as long as I had no complaints.”

Lawrie Anne began to work on the garden and neighbours soon got involved, with plans to use the space for a safe meeting zone with families and friends when restrictions began to ease.

It soon became a place where neighbours could come together and enjoy each other’s company, she said, before she was contacted by her factor – for which she pays £97 a month – to inform her of a complaint made by another resident within the development.

“Then they contacted me to say I had had a complaint,” added Lawrie Anne, “no other details – just someone complained and I had to take it all down.

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“I asked could I have this person’s details, could we arrange a meeting and see what it was they didn’t like and try to resolve the issue. I was told it was confidential and that was that.”

She insists discussions were “ongoing” when she went away for work two weeks ago and returned to find the garden had been “ripped apart”.

Astroturf, plotted plants and trees – all of which Lawrie Anne had paid for out of her own pocket for around £1500 – had vanished.

Lawrie Anne claimed some of the item were found in the bin area, while others she is still waiting to be returned.

Lawrie Anne said: “It’s such a shame. One neighbour says it really helped with her mental health – it’s a disgrace.

“I asked to speak to the one person out of 180 flats who complained but they kept saying they couldn’t tell me.

“I’m trying to make this area better, I care about where I live. I’m not asking for any money or anything in return.”

She added: “My family live in Edinburgh and I live in Glasgow so during lockdown I relied on my community.”

However, the factor firm has denied any wrongdoing, insisting it only agreed to temporary planters which could be removed when necessary as building work – which would involve scaffolding – was due to begin in the near future.

It insists Lawrie Anne and her neighbours’ work was beyond the agreement and, following its legal obligations, one month’s notice was given for the items to be removed following the complaint.

When the space was not returned to its original state within the timeline, the firm cleared the area.

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A spokeswoman for Park Property Management said: “A resident asked if she could place planters on common ground within a residential development which Park PM is responsible for as the appointed factors.

“It was agreed to unless a complaint was received from any co-owners.

“However, the planters extended to the resident creating a full garden installation including

tree planting, lighting, AstroTurf and a BBQ area with tables and chairs.

“Following a complaint from another owner, we wrote to the resident several times and asked that all the items be removed within a month.

“However, all offers were refused and it is simply not true to suggest that the resident was bullied into giving up the garden.”

She added: “Following owners’ wishes, and in line with the legal responsibilities of the title deeds of the properties, we instructed a contractor to remove the installation.

“The resident was again advised of the process and her items were put aside for collection at her convenience.”