TENSIONS surrounding the closure of the Winter Gardens have flared once again as a private company moved in to remove some of the plants.

The Tropical Plant Company began taking plants from the historic building last week, following its indefinite closure in January.

The business, based in Lancashire, ‘grow or nurture’ plants which are then sold on to buyers around the world.

After being given the go-ahead by Ewen Donaldson, general manager of The Botanic Gardens, the company travelled to Glasgow to remove items of "little horticultural significance".

Locals protesting the closure of the Winter Gardens accused the English company of mistreating the plants, the majority being tree ferns and aroid plants, by transporting them in a van with ‘no climate control or protection’.

The claims were disputed by the owners who said the plants they had retrieved from the Gardens were infested with bugs and already dying.

Owner Ben Baron said the plants would not have lasted the summer if left inside the attraction.

He added: "We were instructed to arrive in an unmarked van in order to avoid possible disturbance to the public.

"The Tropical Plant Company have not paid, or been paid to remove any of these plants.

“First and foremost, this visit to The Winter Gardens was to rescue as many of the remaining plants as possible.

“The tree ferns, though still alive, were in desperate need of water and would have survived little more than a month without care, they certainly would not survive the summer months inside the greenhouse.

“All of the removed plants are of little horticultural significance - they are common species.

“In addition to this, many of the plants recovered are infested with various pests including mealybug, which can be extremely difficult to eradicate successfully.

“There has been concern over The Tropical Plant Company profiting over these recovered plants. At this early stage, it is difficult to determine whether there is any profit at all.”

Over 2,000 people have backed an online page documenting the 'death' of the Winter Gardens which is calling for greater transparency from Glasgow City Council.

The dispute comes after the council were accused of switching off the heating in the building, to the detriment of the exotic plants.

Glasgow City Council have since reiterated that all plants with horticultural significance have been removed from the Gardens are being looked after elsewhere.

They added that bigger plants, including the eucalyptus, have been removed due to the fact they were threatening the ‘integrity of the building’.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “The remaining plants are of no horticultural significance and can easily be replaced from within our own gardens or from our regular suppliers.

“However, we have continued and will continue to maintain these plants as appropriate.

“But with the interior of the Winter Gardens about to become a construction site so new emergency exit routes can be built for the People’s Palace, it was felt that some of these plants should be moved to a new home.

“A company agreed to take the plants with the aim of giving them as long a life as possible and they will be able to deal with any horticultural issues that may exist.

“Proposals to ensure a long term sustainable future for the Winter Gardens are still being developed.

“The intention is for the People’s Palace to reopen in the coming months.”