Travellers could stay at Dundee site for another week

From the Courier

An illegal encampment of travelling people could remain at the Claverhouse site on the outskirts of Dundee for another week.

Senior city councillor Willie Sawers expressed frustration that the eviction order sought by the local authority will not be heard at the sheriff court until next Monday.

He hoped that when they do go, the Travellers will not leave the ground they have occupied off Jack Martin Way in the same mess as they left a neighbouring site last week.

They dumped an estimated 150 tons of rubbish and paving debris off Charles Bowman Avenue that has cost the council several thousand pounds to clear up.

The sheriff court yesterday confirmed the date of the eviction order hearing resulting from the city council’s action against the Travellers in their current location, which they continued to occupy yesterday.

Mr Sawers, depute policy and resources convener in the SNP administration, said: “I’m disappointed that there has been a delay in the legal process. Yet again we appear to be powerless to take swift action to effectively deal with a situation where so-called Travellers arrive uninvited at a place they should not be in, and set up camp without permission.”

Mr Sawers said Dundee had experienced similar situations. Last year a group of Travellers set up an illegal camp off Riverside Drive and then moved to another unauthorised area off South Road.

The mess they left at Riverside raised concerns from nearby Dundee Airport and needed an extensive clear-up operation.

There was a risk of Travellers’ litter being blown on to the runway and attracting birds which could cause a hazard to aircraft.

The Claverhouse Travellers — on the evidence of their vans and the debris left at their first stopping place — are offering to carry out landscaping and driveway work in the area.

Vari McDonald, depute convener of environment, said anyone considering having work done at their house should consult the city council’s trusted trader literature and list first.