Network Rail will press ahead with paused plans to cut trees on lines out of Glasgow.

The railway owner plans to cut trees on lines to East Kilbride and Barrhead in order to explore the possibility of electrifying the line or laying more tracks to serve the towns.

The plans were halted last year after opposition from locals, who objected to the destruction of plant life and accused Network Rail of failing to engage with lineside communities.

As we told in October last year, Network Rail agreed to stop the works to address the community's concerns and to carry out further assessments of the impact of the works.

Fiona MacKinnon, Secretary of The Strathbungo Society, told the Glasgow Times last year: "We know that many residents have got in touch with our politicians and contacted Network Rail to express dismay that this important wildlife corridor and barrier to noise and diesel pollution could be lost."

Network Rail deny that trees act as a barrier to noise or diesel pollution and say cutting trees is necessary to explore the possibility of improvements to services from both Barrhead and East Kilbride into the city.

Glasgow politicians backed calls to stop the cuts, including Green MSP Patrick Harvie and the SNP MP for Glasgow Central, Alison Thewliss.

A spokesman for the company said it was considering electrifying lines or laying more tracks to increase the frequency of services to and from each town.

He added: "We held various drop-in meetings and spoke to people who were interested in it, over the course of the weeks leading up to the start of works. We did have some issues at the Crossmyloof end of the line.

"The presence there we've been getting engaged with and we've had further meetings with them around what we're got plann

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