Woman hits out after food waste repeatedly dumped in Glasgow's Richmond Park

In response to Lisa Gillen's complaints, Glasgow City Council has since erected warning signs around Richmond Park.

Ms Gillen, from Oatlands, founded Friends of Richmond Park six months ago in response to her concerns about the upkeep of the beauty spot.

For more than seven months, she claims, food waste has been regularly left at the Southside greenspace, causing issues.

Leftovers, including big lumps of cooked pasta and chicken, full pizzas, large quantities of bread rolls and rotten fruit and vegetables, have been found at the park.

Lisa Gillen (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Food waste dumped in the park (Image: Lisa Gillen)

The 49-year-old said: “It’s been going on for a long time, unfortunately, and it’s just so frustrating. It has been going on for most of the year.

"There have been a few individuals coming into the park and dumping food waste on a bigger scale than just feeding the birds.

“I keep missing the person who is doing it but I am presuming it’s a local person or business, but, without evidence, I cannot say who it is.

“This is why I started the Friend of Richmond Park group, so that the space has some accountability and people know there is someone here to stop this happening."

The group aims to maintain the park and "keep the council on their toes and make sure they are aware of what is going on".

They are mostly concerned that the excessive amount of food will attract animals to the park and discourage locals from using it.

Chicken and pasta (Image: Lisa Gillen)

Seagulls at the park (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Ms Gillen added: “It is attracting other wildlife. There is now an influx of seagulls nesting in the park, which are defecating there and it is becoming quite unsightly."

After the group put forward ideas such as signs and CCTV to deter the behaviour, Glasgow City Council has now placed warnings in the green space.

Signs at Richmond Park (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Seagulls near the pond (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

The yellow signs read: "Fly-tipped waste being investigated in this area.

"Please report offenders to Glasgow City Council."

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “Fly-tipping is an environmental crime and dumping waste in a park known for its wildlife is completely unacceptable.

“We were aware of the fly-tipping incident that’s been highlighted and our environmental health staff has visited the park to investigate.

“If anyone has any information on who was responsible for fly-tipping in Richmond Park they can contact our environmental health staff in confidence.

“The dumped waste has been cleared by our staff.

“We also advise members of the public not to feed the birds found in the park. Bread is certainly not part of a bird’s diet and also attracts vermin to the park.”

Lisa Gillen next to the new signs (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Seagulls (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Despite the issues surrounding the dumping, Ms Gillen is hopeful that the community can come together and look after the green space once again.

Next week, she is meeting with the council to officially get her group recognised as a Friends of Richmond Park group, which will ensure more leeway over decision-making and planning.

She added: “There are lots of good things happening in the park, but sadly, because of this, they are not getting recognised.

"For example, the model boat club has been in the park for nearly 50 years and they do a lot of good work in the park, they look after the swans and wildlife."