Travellers move on after short stay in Port - Inverclyde

From the Greenock Telegraph

Two caravans, pictured, arrived over the weekend and parked up outside Ferguson’s on Castle Road in a small carpark between the shipyard and nearby Newark Castle.

It has been a popular location for the travelling community in recent years.

But barriers were installed by Inverclyde Council in summer 2012, preventing high-sided vehicles from getting any further than Ferguson’s.

Surveillance cameras were also put up for authorities to keep an eye on the area in an attempt to prevent any illegal encampments from being set up close to the historic 15th century castle. One of the Travellers, who moved on yesterday, told the Tele they were stopping off in Inverclyde en route from Ireland to London.

A council spokesman said they kept tabs on the area and regular visits took place.

He added: “The site has been visited and we will continue to monitor the situation following agreed council policy.

“Any issues will be dealt with as and when they arise.”

The presence of Travellers in Inverclyde has been a subject of huge debate in recent times, following plans by the council to set up a £50,000 official transit site for the travelling community in the Port’s Kelburn Park.

Officials said the plans were designed to give the council more power to move any illegal camps on.

But the proposals sparked outrage and, following a period of public consultation, the council ditched the idea.

Councillors instead vowed to use the cash to repair damage caused by previous unauthorised camps at Kelburn Park.

A new policy for dealing with Travellers was also introduced by the council in November.