Councillor welcomes decision of Travellers to move from public parkland - Moray

From STV

A group of Travellers who camped on a public park in Moray have moved following complaints from local residents.

The Travellers arrived at Bicentenary Park in Fochabers last week and sparked complaints of children being bullied and dogs being allowed to run free.

Sean Morton, who is a Labour councillor for Fochabers/Lhanbryde, said that he was “disappointed” that the group had chosen to camp on the site. After his attempts to act as an intermediary failed he lodged a complaint with Moray Council.

Councillor Morton was advised that the encampment was legal and only a successful action against them in the sheriff court could bring about their removal.

On Wednesday, however, it was revealed that the group had moved on. Councillor Morton said: “I went to speak to the Travellers and things did not go well, to put it mildly. They made it very clear that they would stay until there was a court order for their removal.

“They informed the council that they would be staying there for five weeks. I thought that was far too long considering the complaints that had been raised with me.

“I listened to the concerns of my constituents and made sure the council were well aware of them. I am pleased that the council responded very quickly to my concerns.

“I am also pleased that the Travellers, in this instance, realised that this was clearly not the place for them to be.

“The law says that they were entitled to be there but they moved on and aside from damage their vehicles have done to the turf, the park is reasonably tidy.”

Councillor Morton added that he hoped the Travellers might choose where to halt “more wisely” next time they were in the area, adding: “I know that the people of Fochabers are not prejudiced but I know that they care for their town and look after it.

“To see Travellers here not respecting our town was simply too much to take.”

The councillor added that with Moray Council working towards a new policy on travellers he hoped that the balance of their needs and those of the settled community might be found.