A TWO-YEAR fight to save a beauty spot was looking like it could end up in the courts 15 years ago, as residents dug deep to save some trees.

Outraged homeowners in Trees Park Avenue were taking legal action to stop the destruction of their picturesque view to make way for houses on an adjacent site.

They began their battle against the development by arranging a fundraiser to foot the cost of their case.

One of the leading residents in the fight, Jackie Polson, put the blame firmly at East Renfrewshire Council’s door.

She said at the time: “We are just regular folk making ends meet and paying our mortgage but we are willing to take it on. There is huge anger here. They are not even their trees to chop down. They are in OUR title deeds. The council say they have adopted them but where is the documentation? You would think they’d find that first.

“We have objected to this right from the start and will continue to fight.

"We are strongly opposed to this and fear our trees could be knocked down any day.”

The group had already taken their case to the Ombudsman in the hope of forcing a U-turn.

Jackie added: “It is really frustrating for us but what else can we do? We can’t let them get away with it.”

East Renfrewshire Council had granted planning permission for housebuilding in the area several months earlier, despite objections from local residents concerned about the felling of their trees.

However, the council insisted it was not involved in the dispute.

A spokesperson said: “This is a private matter between the residents and the developer.”