A NEILSTON resident is demanding action over a stretch of overgrown land which he has compared to “a jungle.”

Andrew Bryans, 28, says a patch of grass near Cochran Avenue has become an unsightly mess after being left untouched for at least three years.

Despite making regular complaints to East Renfrewshire Council and property developer Dawn Homes, which built the 42-home site, Andrew is still waiting for action – 18 months on from his initial grievance.

Both the council and the Glasgow-based construction firm have denied ownership of the land, next to Kirktonfield Road.

Andrew, whose home is just yards from the overgrown weeds, said: “I’ve been in an ongoing dispute over a bit of land that Dawn Homes and the council say they don’t own and won’t cut the grass.

“This has been going on for three years and the place is like a jungle.

“The council is saying it hasn’t adopted the land from Dawn Homes and Dawn Homes say it’s nothing to do with them and it’s outwith their boundary but, when they were building, they were using that road for access so for them to use that they must have had to get permission from someone.”

“It’s always been an issue, it’s never once been maintained.”

Andrew said a number of neighbours are also up in arms over the unsightly mess.

The area has been left untouched for so long that Andrew claims he has to keep a watchful eye over his dog whenever the animal wanders near the garden fence as reeds have started to emerge through the panelling.

He added: “It’s been going on for so long that it’s not even just people from this estate who are noticing. You get chatting to people when you’re walking the dog and they ask what’s going on.”

A spokesman for ERC said: “This area of land is not owned by the council and it is therefore not our responsibility to maintain it.

“We do, however, appreciate that this matter is frustrating for Mr Bryans and have contacted Dawn Homes on his behalf on a number of occasions in an attempt to rectify the situation.”

However, Dawn Homes managing director Martin Egan insists his firm is not to blame.

He said: “I cannot shed any light on who does own this strip of land. However, in our opinion, the responsibility of maintaining this area is not the responsibility of either Dawn Homes or the residents of Cochran Avenue.”