Passenger safety is a "priority"

Network Rail insists safety is its priority and that leaves falling on the line can lead to accidents.

But objectors in the affected area have described the proposals as drastic and warn that wildlife will be threatened.

They claim the environmental damage that will be caused is out of proportion to the problem of leaves on the line.

One protester, Fiona MacKinnon, from Strathbungo, said: "No resident in this whole area has any problem with safety being paramount.

"In fact, we have been trying to get Network Rail and their predecessors to maintain the trees over the last 30 years and this has not been done.

Where I think we have failed is in the maintenance of the trees over many years Ron McAulay Network Rail

"However, they have to have a rational risk-assessed policy which says certain trees are a problem, but that they will re-plant with other species that will not cause this problem.

"This is a wildlife corridor. It is incredibly important from that point of view. I do not think that Network Rail have actually had a proper environmental policy on this.

"They have one written down, but they are not doing it as far as this particular stretch of rail is concerned."

'Big issue'

Ms MacKinnon warned: "If you think they are not going to come to a tree near you, you are very much mistaken.

"We are having a local fight, but it is a big issue."

Network Rail said that in the last year, 10 alerts had occurred in the Crossmyloof and Pollokshaws area.

'Better communications'

Regional Director Ron McAulay said: "We have done environmental assessments for the work we're doing over this line.

"Where I think that we have failed is in the maintenance of the trees over many many years. We should have been in here before now to take many of these trees down.

"We will be back in future years to maintain them a lot better than we have."

Mr McCaulay added: "I would also say that we need to make sure we communicate with the residents better.

"I accept that we haven't done what we should have done."