Trees up to 200 years old are “laying like gravestones on the ground” at the Thornly Park campus after bulldozers moved into the Paisley site yesterday.
Miller Homes, which has planning permission to build 179 houses on the former University of the West of Scotland campus, instructed tree surgeons to start clearing the site on February 27.
A last-minute legal challenge from Save Paisley’s Green Space only delayed the felling by days when Renfrewshire Council said it was confident Miller Homes was acting according to planning permission granted by the Scottish Government Reporter.
Yesterday, work to remove trees, shrubs, bushes and hedging got underway.
Protests by Save Paisley Green Space saw demonstrators climb trees and block machinery but their efforts were in vain as dozens of species of trees lining the site continue to be chopped down.
Michael McCallum, who lives near the site, has captured the destruction of the former campus, its accommodation, sports complex and historic buildings over the past few years in a video.
Reflecting on the loss of what was an oasis of greenery for many Buddies, he said: “The UWS campus at Caplethill road has seen a final coup de grace for what can only be described as beautiful trees, some more than 200 years old.
“I was up at the former campus this afternoon getting more drone footage for historical reasons.
“This video covers the initial demolition of 2022 and on up to today’s ripped out trees laying like gravestones in the ground.
“For all the protests held, it was not enough to save the trees and the trees were doomed to be removed from March 6.
“It seems that nothing cultural, historical, spiritual, industrial or beautiful is safe in Paisley or Renfrewshire or is deemed worthy or beneficial to its citizens.” ·
Save Paisley’s Green Space - which has been objecting to the housing development for three years - has continued to protest outside the site and is continuing to maintain a presence there all week.
The organisation has also again urged Renfrewshire Council to use the “enforcement charter at its disposal” to halt any works until Miller Homes has fulfilled and answered all of the conditions attached to its planning permission.
As the safe route to school has not yet been finalised, it would offer a reprieve for the trees and site until that issue is resolved.
A spokeswoman said it was “heartbreaking” to see “trees being ripped out like match sticks”.
She said: “We always knew this day was coming but to see the trees ripped up like that was horrible.
“The trees are coming down rapidly. It has taken them hundreds of years to grow and it is taking less than two minutes to take them down; it’s heartbreaking to watch.
“At several stages we stood in front of machinery and climbed trees and it delayed works for a short time.
“The site is teeming with goldfinch, blue tits and hundreds of birds all starting nesting season.
“Imagine the place in a few days with no trees and no hawthorn for them. It’s going to be a much different place and everyone living locally will be gutted.”
Miller Homes last week told the Paisley Daily Express it was “replacing the plants removed with an additional 30 per cent compensatory planting” in a programme agreed with Renfrewshire Council planning department in consultation with the Forestry Commission.”
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