A CAMPAIGN group determined to save a plot of land from redevelopment has made a plea for support from the First Minister.

As told by the Glasgow Times earlier this month, Merchant City Park Ltd wants the imminent sale of land on Ingram Street to be halted.

They believe a reprieve would allow them to make a case that the current car park on the site could be turned into a valuable green space with extensive health and wellbeing benefits.

Merchant City Park, formed by residents and Merchant City & Trongate Community Council (MCTCC), claims its case has not been handled correctly or fairly by the council.

The council disputes the claim and insists it will go ahead with a closing date for sale of the land on August 28.

Complaints to the Public Services Ombudsman have taken the group's case no further and so it has gone to the Scottish Government for help.

Merchant City Park Ltd spokeswoman Eileen Mills has now written to Nicola Sturgeon to ask for her intervention.

The NCP car park site is overlooked by the famous Fruitmarket Mural by Smug and is home to 20 mature cherry and chestnut trees.

The group planned to use the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to take control of the land and turn it into a city park.

There had been plans in 2016 for a hotel developer to buy the land for £6.75 million but the council pulled out of the deal.

After discussions about a plan to create a park at community council meetings attended by local councillors, the group contacted the council by email in January 2019 seeking advice.

On February 19 2019, MCTCC emailed the council again advising that it wanted to make a Participation Request under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and asked to consult with the council about the process.

A successful participation request gives local groups enhanced rights to access information and be informed about their area.

Council officials read the email as being an enquiry, rather than a formal request, and mistakenly believed MCTCC would be carrying out a consultation about creating a park.

The community council received a reply to its email around a week later but the council's response did not tell the group there was a requirement to apply with a statutory formal application form.

The group had been in contact by phone with the council in March 2019 but says it was still not told of the need to submit a formal request.

On March 25, Merchant City Park Ltd found out via a story in the press that the land had been sold by the council to City Property, it's arm's-length company.

City Property is not covered by the community asset transfer legislation.

The campaign group believes the council took this step to prevent it accessing the land but the council categorically denies this.

Merchant City Park Ltd raised a complaint with the Public Services Ombudsman alleging the council and City Property colluded in thwarting plans for a park.

The ombudsman has said it would not take the complaint further, but Merchant City Park Ltd has asked for a review of the decision.

Eileen said: "We feel incredibly let down but we don't blame the local councillors as much as we blame the council officials.

"We feel let down mostly by the council secrecy.

"How can they possibly say they have treated us fairly?"

A spokesman said the Scottish Government is aware of the issues involved but cannot be involved in the process, saying it is a matter for Glasgow City Council.

He said: "We are determined to see a Scotland where community-led action is celebrated and community ownership is desirable and viable.

"Our asset transfer legislation encourages and supports the ownership and control of assets by communities and should be considered by community organisations and relevant authorities in situations that recognise the public benefits that the community use will bring.

“Glasgow City Council is required to consider any asset transfer requests they receive for the land or buildings in their control.

"This is a matter for Glasgow City Council to consider and we would expect them to do so in close cooperation with Merchant City Park Ltd and their partners.

"Although unable to be involved in this process, we are aware of these issues and are currently working to explore ways to provide clarity to address these concerns.”

A council spokesman said: “We appreciate the group disagrees with the decision to sell the site.

"However, the repeated complaint appears to be that the council failed to engage with an asset transfer request and a participation request, despite the fact that the group did not actually make any such request.

“We note that the group previously lodged a complaint regarding this matter with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman – who found that the council had acted reasonably.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman said the body could make no comment.

To sign a petition calling for the creation of a Merchant City Park see you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/merhcant-city-park