Eviction order means Travellers must leave park or be removed - Aberdeenshire

From STV

An eviction order has been served on a group of Travellers, who are using 37 caravans, at Calder Park, near Cove, in Aberdeen.

STV has learned that if the travellers do not move from the site by the morning of Friday, April 5, they are liable to being summarily evicted by Grampian Police.

The issue has divided opinion in the north-east, with local councillor Willie Young, arguing that the only way to improve the situation is by creating specially-designated Travellers sites, while introducing a by-law to prevent illegal camping.

Young said on Sunday that he was sure the police would be frustrated at the possibility of having to intervene in Calder Park later this week.

He told STV: "We know this eviction order will create problems, whatever happens.

"If the Travellers are moved on, they will have to find somewhere else to move to, and that will probably see them setting up illegal camps in the city.

"But if they ignore the eviction order — and are still there at 8.30am on Friday — then we have the prospect of the police going into Calder Park.

"The current situation, where these things keep happening, is unsatisfactory for everybody. Personally, I think it is a disaster for Aberdeen.

"But I also believe the Scottish Government should be addressing the problem, rather than leaving councils to tackle it, on a case-by-case basis. That isn't fair on the public and it isn't fair on Travellers either."

A recent Holyrood report concluded that the issue of Travellers was "a unique problem" for Aberdeen.