PROTESTERS have halted the felling of trees on the site of a controversial West End housing plan.

Glasgow City Council enforcement officers ordered developers to stop cutting down trees on Otago Lane yesterday.

The move came after workers began to remove trees on Tuesday, a decisions campaigners claim will be disastrous for local wildlife.

This reignited a long-running dispute and police were called when residents and business owners gathered to fight the felling.

Council officers stepped in to deal with the stand-off, serving a temporary stop notice which prevents felling for 28 days.

Green Party councillor Martha Wardrop, for Hillhead, said the area “should be protected at all costs”.

She said: “The developer has failed to comply with a series of planning conditions for the controversial residential development on Otago Lane and planning enforcement has been required to call a halt to the cutting down of trees at the site.

“The importance of this stretch of riverbank as part of a ‘green corridor’ along the Kelvin between Kelvingrove Park and the Botanic Gardens should be recognised and protected by any plans.

“The site is a major wildlife habitat, a green ‘highway’ and one of the city’s greatest assets, which should be protected at all costs.”

Glasgow City Council previously granted planning permission to developers to build 45 flats and four townhouses on the lane, which backs on to the River Kelvin at Hillhead, despite over 3,000 objections being submitted.

Queensberry Properties took possession of the site in 2018.

A council spokesman said: “This notice will prevent any works being carried out for 28 days from the date of service, and is being served as the developer has not yet met the pre-start conditions to carry out development of any nature on the site.”

These conditions include following a species management plan, which aims to protect the habitats of nesting birds, otters and bats.

Campaigners against the development have welcomed the council’s move, saying: “A success, thanks to all who have supported the campaign.

“However, this might well be a stay of execution.”

They added: “Though overjoyed at the council’s decision, residents and activists consider this temporary notice as a measured success.

“The community fears the end of the saga will not come any time soon.”

Responding to the notice, a Queensberry Properties spokesman said: “We have been carrying out works on site at Otago Lane in accordance with our current planning consent.

“However, acknowledging the level of public interest in the development, we have mutually agreed with Glasgow City Council to temporarily suspend activity in order to continue our ongoing positive discussions with council planners.

“A temporary stop notice has been issued to this effect.”