Fife councillor hits out at ‘glacially slow’ progress on unauthorised Traveller sites

From the Courier

A Fife councillor has hit out at the “glacially slow” progress being made on Travellers’ sites.

Conservative councillor Dave Dempsey called for “no-go” areas for caravans to prevent unauthorised encampments. Businesses have been left to fork out thousands to tidy up industrial units after Travellers descended without permission.

In the most recent case in Courier Country, 150 tons of rubbish and rubble was left behind at Claverhouse Industrial Estate in Dundee.

The problem has also hit Fife. For example, a Glenrothes firm was left facing a £10,000 clear-up after around 20 caravans formed an unauthorised encampment on a car park owned by Fife Fabrications in 2010.

Fife Council has been identifying potential stopover sites for Travellers, but Mr Dempsey said more is needed to be done.

Mr Dempsey said: “This is nothing to do with Gypsy Travellers. This is to do with unauthorised encampments and whoever is behind them.

“Fife has an approach of developing stopover sites, which is absolutely to be commended. Unfortunately this process is proving to be glacially slow.”

At the last full council meeting, Mr Dempsey raised a motion calling for ancient legislation to be used to tackle the problem.

He said: “Council asks the relevant officers to engage with the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and such other bodies that may be appropriate so as to bring about as quickly as possible the wherewithal to designate particular areas of Fife as unsuitable for temporary unauthorised encampments and in areas so designated removed as quickly as possible using all legal means including the 1865 Trespass Act.”

However, Mr Dempsey later accepted a Labour amendment to the motion. The Conservative councillor said he was happy to do so because it brought the issue “back on the agenda”.

Labour councillor David Ross said: “Dave’s motion saying there should be designated areas as no-go areas is not the right way forward. The implication of it is everywhere else should be a possibility.

“What we need to do is to work with people affected, particularly business estates where there have been problems, and the travelling community to see where we can avoid these problem encampments being established. I think we need to look at other ways of dealing with the issues.”

Mr Ross said in his amendment: “Council notes that the Fife cooperation policy makes it clear that unauthorised encampments near residential areas and business estates that cause nuisance is unacceptable.

“Council commits to continue to work closely with the business community and with the travelling community to introduce measures which reduce the likelihood of such encampments being established.

“Council calls on the Scottish Government, Cosla, police, courts, other linked bodies and the travelling community to work with Fife Council to establish a clearer framework for encouraging Travellers to use areas that are appropriate for their occupancy.

“Council agrees to remit the cross party leaders group to establish arrangements to take these matters forward on a cross party basis.”

During the meeting Councillor Susan Leslie criticised Mr Dempsey for referring to the travelling community as a “supposed community”.

She said: “I’m disappointed they didn’t take the opportunity to reaffirm the council’s commitment to supporting diversity and equality, given that Travellers are a protected group under the Equality Act.

“I was really horrified by Councillor Dempsey’s comment about a ‘supposed community’.”