ANTI-CAPITALISM protesters who have pitched up on the last open space in Glasgow city centre have been told to vacate the land or be locked in the private gardens by their owners.

Four tents have appeared in Blythswood Square gardens, which are surrounded by a five-star hotel, offices and a branch of the NatWest bank, after a number of protesters left a council-approved settlement in Kelvingrove Park.

The five demonstrators holding the fort yesterday claimed to be intensifying their protest in solidarity with those evicted from the original anti-capitalism camp in Wall Street this week, with bailiffs due to clear the contentious sit-in at St Paul’s Cathedral last night.

Recruitment specialist Douglas Kinnaird, a member of the committee which administers the gardens and whose office overlooks the camp, approached protesters yesterday afternoon to inform them the gates would be locked at dusk. He warned the protesters had a number of hours to vacate the garden, which is open to the public, before losing access.

The protesters told Mr Kinnaird they had no intention of leaving the site and had enough supplies to keep them going. A compost toilet is being planned for the site, they later claimed. He declined to speak to The Herald about the issue.

Hans Rissman, general manager of the nearby Blythswood Hotel, said guests had made comments about the camp and had asked about its purpose. He said: “They are confused, as we all are, as to what the purpose of it is.

“I was through in Edinburgh and saw the St Andrew Square camp and it doesn’t look good. We have a private garden that is the last green spot in the centre. It’s a bit of a shame people can’t use it as they normally would, it is perhaps a bit intimidating for them.”

One of the camp’s leaders Paddy McManus, 38, an architectural technician who is between jobs, said the group was looking to set up further camps across Glasgow and had identified more potential sites.

While he would not disclose the location of the new camps he said sites at Glasgow Cathedral and Buchanan Street, by the St Vincent Street toilets, had been discounted.

The protesters had originally been moved from George Square ahead of Remembrance Sunday with Glasgow City Council giving them permission to move into a section of Kelvingrove Park for a three-month period. Alternative sites of Glasgow Green and the Broomielaw were rejected.

Mr McManus said: “People thought when we moved to Kelvingrove we would be sitting there twiddling our thumbs and waiting for the good weather to come. That is not the case and we have been planning our next moves.”

He added the possibility of occupying banks in Glasgow and other forms of direct action had been discussed, but it was more likely the protesters would arrange a number of more peaceful stunts.

While Mr McManus admitted the group was still clarifying its aims, he said a key message this week was urging people to transfer their money from high street banks into community-based credit unions.

Glasgow City Council cannot evict the protesters as the land is privately owned. A spokesman said: “We have done everything we can to balance their right to protest with the right of people to enjoy their city. It’s wrong for a tiny, unrepresentative group to make life difficult for Glaswegians and we urge them to see sense.”

The landowners will have to apply to a sheriff for permission to clear the site.

l Protesters began putting up Christmas decorations at their camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral, despite a legal eviction notice was served giving them 24 hours to quit. No-one has left the area since the move by the City of London.