PLANNING bosses have come under fire for blowing �1.75million of taxpayers' money on a "dogs' dinner". The council has handed over the cash to a mystery housing developer which owned the site of former Nestle pet food factory in Barrhead's Glasgow Road.

Now the bulldozers are moving in to flatten the derelict building - a blot on the landscape since the factory closed down with the loss of 210 jobs in 2004.

The council has acted to demolish the site as the abandoned property has become a magnet for fire-raisers and fly tippers.

And they want the area cleared so the land can be made ready for development.

But the land purchase has sparked a furious row amid concerns about the waste of taxpayers' cash at a time the public purse is facing its toughest financial challenges in decades.

Councillor Jim Swift, the opposition leader at East Renfrewshire council says the local authority's purchase of the building is "probably illegal but at best immoral".

And he slated the council for buying the site without knowing what to do with it.

However, Barrhead councillor Douglas Yates (below) has backed the authority saying the move to demolish the eyesore will be a popular one with Barrhead people.

Cllr Swift told the Barrhead News: "The council seem to have spent �1.75million on a site which they do not appear to have any plans for and that surely isn't a right and proper use of the taxpayer's money.

"The previous owner planned to build houses on the site and that was turned down by the planning department, so what are the council going to do with it?

"It's an excellent example of people abusing the monopoly of power and if it isn't illegal then it is at very best immoral." But Cllr Yates said: "The whole idea that the building is to be demolished is extremely good news. It can only be a good thing, but also a move which I'm sure will be welcomed not only by local people but also the fire brigade.

"Negotiations have been ongoing for some time over this and I'm delighted that something is finally happening here.

"It's surely better to have the building demolished, and even if it lies empty for a while then it's still an improvement.

"It's a very ugly sight and not only that it is dangerous too so it about time that something was done about it." East Renfrewshire Council's business and regeneration manager Phil Prentice said: "The council has concluded a missive with the owner of the former Nestle site in Barrhead. This involves the current owner taking the buildings down and clearing the site.

"A demolition has been applied for and it is likely that these works will take up to 12 weeks starting late May 2012.

"This is a huge step forward for the council as this means we now own the entire corridor from Dovecothall down to the railway line."