Residents of a Perth street have demanded talks with rail chiefs after hundreds of trees were chopped down last year.
Glover Street neighbours fought for the retention of the birch trees that served as a buffer zone between their homes and the railway line after Network Rail issued plans to fell the vegetation to make way for a new storage facility.
Despite concerns, the company ploughed ahead with the works last March, leading campaigners to accuse it of showing “contempt for the local community”.
Nearly a year later, fed-up Glover Street residents say they are still encountering a number of issues with the site where the new storage facility is being built, including work being carried out around the clock.
Local Liberal Democrat councillor Willie Wilson is supporting the protesters and wants Network Rail to meet again with the community to discuss their concerns.
Mr Wilson said: “This saga started off with the total destruction of a whole range of trees, shrubs and green growth between Glover Street homes and the station yard.
“In many people’s opinion locally far too many trees were removed unnecessarily. Sadly we must accept the situation.
“There are however a number of problems that have occurred since then.”
He said work was being carried out round-the-clock at times and this was causing light and noise disturbance to residents.
Locals are also complaining about a wooden fence erected between Glover Street properties and the rail yard.
Mr Wilson said workers’ vehicles were being dumped outside houses for long periods of time without any obvious activity taking place.
“A JCB sat outside one resident’s for nearly two weeks over the Christmas holidays,” he added.
Network Rail insisted it had held ongoing talks with local residents over the last six months and was doing all it could to be considerate.
A spokesperson for the rail company said: “The area behind these properties has always been operational railway land and it is now being regularly used for the storage of equipment and materials.
“The exact use of the site will vary depending on the type maintenance work being undertaken on the Highland mainline.
“We have been in dialogue with the residents whose back gardens border the site since last summer and are committed to working as considerately as possible at this location.”
