Plans for a bar and nightclub within Glasgow's Botanic Gardens could be halted because of trusts established by Robert The Bruce and wrangles over land ownership.

Plans for a bar and nightclub within Glasgow's Botanic Gardens could be halted because of trusts established by Robert The Bruce and wrangles over land ownership.

Glasgow City Council now believes parts of the plot designated for the controversial scheme fall within "common good land", while other subterranean sections may not be the authority's to give away.

Senior council figures say that even if the developer does not pull out, resolution of the issues could delay it by at least two years.

A threat of legal action by campaigners against the project could hold that timescale up even further.

The council has also confirmed in writing to leisure chain G1 Group, the firm behind the proposals, that a 99-year lease is no longer an option and that profit-sharing must be on the table. .

It follows a campaign of some internal Labour pressure from MPs and MSPs on the ruling council administration to ditch the project.

Kelvin MSP Pauline McNeill has told party colleague George Ryan, head of development and regeneration at the council, that the 99-year lease is "entirely inappropriate" and "makes no financial sense".

She has raised the issue of common good land and ownership of the air space in the underground rail tracks.

Mr Ryan, who has already issued a "take it or leave it" ultimatum to G1's head Stefan King over the lease, said that after closer examination council officials informed him they now believed some of the plot was common good land.

He said: "Officials informed us late last week of the latest developments. The air space under ground is not ours to give away and parts of the development would fall foul of common good law.

"If it is all looking too messy and costly there is still the option for G1 to walk away."

Ann McKechin, whose Glasgow North Westminster constituency includes the Botanics, said: "This is an opportunity for a major rethink.

"I have no doubt there is support for an appropriate visitor facility and if the council was to reconsider the proposal in line with residents' views it could get a lot of support.

"But the current proposal is ill-judged."

Common good law was introduced by Robert The Bruce and established tracts of land and funds to be held in trust by authorities for the good of the people.

Save Our Botanics campaigners have argued from the beginning that they believed a 19th-century Act of Parliament ensured the Botanic Gardens, while looked after by city authorities, should be retained entirely as a botanic garden.