FOOD and belongings have been left behind in a former foodbank venue after it was evicted by landlords.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Times, Greater Maryhill Foodbank was evicted yesterday over failure to pay rent arrears.

Staff from landlords City Property, a Glasgow City Council arms length firm, visited the venue on Chapel Street yesterday morning to find food and belongings still left inside.

Glasgow City Council was granted a degree at the Sheriff Court to evict the foodbank from its premises.

City Property said it had attempted a number of times to resolve the rent arrears issue before they were forced to take action, serving the foodbank with a 24-hour eviction notice on Friday.

Foodbank founder Julie Webster claims she was never contacted by City Property in an attempt to rectify the outstanding rent, and only knew of the eviction when our reporter informed her of it on Friday.

She now plans to look for a new venue for the foodbank, and is also searching for another outlet to take on extra food in the interim.

Julie said: "Since we were told that our tenancy with City Property had been terminated we have been spending much time trying to locate an alternative venue to store and distribute food from.

"To date we have been unable to find an affordable appropriate facility.

Glasgow Times:

As well as doing this we are preparing our finances for Audit.

"We feel that on conclusion of the Audit a lot of speculation and untrue rumours will finally be put to bed.

"We were only made aware that an eviction was taking place when we were contacted and informed of this by [your reporter].

"We spent the day at Chapel Street yesterday clearing out a lot of stuff and made food available to local people throughout the day yesterday.

"It is our intention to contact other Foodbanks in an attempt to offer the remainder of the food to them.

"For clarity and the avoidance of any doubt we have never been contacted by anyone from City Property in am attempt to rectify the rent arrears."

A spokesman from City Property said: "There was still food there so we'll be in touch to tell them they have seven days to come in and collect the stuff that has been left behind.

"The premises will once they've come and removed the rest of their stuff, go back on the market through our letting agent like any of our other vacant units."