BUILDERS working on embattled Toryglen flats upgrades have been pulled off-site after a stand-up row between E.ON staff and residents.

The delay-hit scheme to renovate more than 600 homes should have been completed last August but more than a year on there is no end in sight.

And now the works have been further delayed after E.ON, which is carrying out the works using Scottish Government money, sent its entire workforce home.

Residents claim E.ON staff were verbally abusive towards them while E.ON claims its workers felt under threat for residents.

The row at the Thistle Housing Association flats, to which police were called, broke out on Wednesday afternoon.

The Evening Times understands an independent report was being carried out by the British Board of Agrement.

Residents approached the employee to ask him questions about the survey and were told to move away by an E.ON employee.

David Crockwell, who lives at Kerrycroy Avenue, claims the E-ON staff member made an aggressive gesture towards him and used the words: “Do you want to take this f**king off-site, you f**king k**b.”

David said: “I saw the man from the British Board of Agrement and went over to ask him what he was doing on site.

“We are extremely keen to have an independent assessment of the works carried out so it was good news to us that he was there.

“An E.ON staff member told me to move away as the gentleman has to stay independent and I replied that E.ON should not be talking to him either, in that case and began to walk away.”

Mr Crockwell then said things became heated and the police were called. Police Scotland confirmed officers attended the site.

However, E.ON claims its staff members were verbally abused and they have removed staff from the site over fears for their safety.

A spokesman for E.ON said: “We have had to take steps to withdraw colleagues while we ensure the site is safe enough for them to complete the works in the coming weeks.

“We have taken this decision after one of our site supervisors and an independent building inspector, who was reporting on the works at residents’ request, were verbally abused by a small group of residents while on a tour of the estate and prevented from leaving.

“The safety of our employees is paramount and it is completely unacceptable that our staff should be treated in this way.

“We will be liaising with Thistle Housing to find a way to proceed with this project that is improving the energy efficiency of hundreds of homes.”

It is not the first time police have been called to the site.

Ian Paterson, who has helped spearhead the residents’ campaign, was visited by police called by the housing association in relation to a blog that has been started by residents and which details the failings of the works programme so far.

Meanwhile, the programme of works was supposed to have been completed by the end of July but is still ongoing.

The Evening Times has previously told about residents being given up to 13 different completion dates for work to their individual properties.

Residents repeatedly claimed window overcills put in during the upgrade works were leaking – and

E.ON has finally confirmed

these will have to be replaced.

The Evening Times asked E.ON for a response to the window sills issue and about the completion date but the query received no response.

A spokesperson for Thistle Housing Association said: “We are aware that E-ON has temporarily removed its workmen from the ongoing energy efficiency works at Toryglen. Thistle Housing Association is currently liaising with all parties in order to find a resolve that will allow the final phase of work and snagging to continue.

“E.ON is addressing the issues relating to the window sills with the manufacturer. We continue to strive for a conclusion to these works, within a safe environment for all.”

A letter from Thistle Housing to residents, seen by the Evening Times, reads: “The delays in this contract have been excessive and have been a constant source of anxiety for all of the residents involved.

“We are extremely sorry that the slow progress is being made has been further interrupted and will be working with E.ON to ensure that men return to this site and complete the works as soon as possible.”

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “The external wall insulation and repairs contract in Toryglen is between Thistle Housing Association and E.ON, not the council.”

The spokesman confirmed the council is aware of the new window problem after a Clerk of Works quality inspection.