Travellers playing cat-and-mouse game with Dundee authorities

From the Courier

Dundee’s game of cat-and-mouse with Travellers has taken a new turn after the unwelcome visitors illegally pitched up on another site.

Under cover of darkness, around 20 caravans left ground they had been occupying at East Claverhouse on Wednesday night just hours before an eviction order against them was to be enforced.

However, rather than leave Dundee, they journeyed only to the Riverside Business Park on the city’s western border to set up another camp on land they had no lawful right to occupy.

It is the third time in four years they have settled on the former Scottish Water property next to Dundee Airport. Their arrival prompted site agents DTZ to start legal action to have them moved and also raised safety concerns at the 
airport because of the risk of their rubbish being blown on to the runway and attracting gulls.

The Travellers left their last settlement off Jack Martin Way at East Claverhouse strewn with debris, which the council then began to clear up.

At first sight, the mess was not as bad as the as the desolation the Travellers left at their previous resting place at West Claverhouse. Then they discarded an estimated 150 tons of rubbish and rubble off Charles Bowman Avenue, which cost the local authority several thousand pounds to remove.

The council had to pay the costs of going to court for an eviction order to make them quit Jack Martin Way and the ruling was to be enforced on Thursday.

The Travellers did not depart without leaving gas canisters, broken televisions and piles of household waste. Two derelict caravans were also left abandoned among the rubbish.

Environment convener Craig Melville said the council would look to pursue prosecutions over the mess.

“I’ll speak to the head of the environment department and as with all incidents of fly-tipping, if we have the evidence to pursue prosecutions, then we will do so,” he said.

Lord Provost Bob Duncan said: “Personally, I think these unofficial sites are being left in the most shocking state and the council is doing its best to clear it up.

“It is appalling and I am totally disgusted with it. It is costing a great deal of money to clear up and I feel desperately sorry for the residents nearby.

“I wouldn’t want it on my doorstep and I’m sure they don’t want it on theirs. It’s not acceptable at all.”

Neighbours reacted furiously to the mess.

Louise Hamilton, 31, a student from Cheviot Crescent, said: “I don’t mind that they were there but I think the rubbish left behind is really bad. There’s no need for it.

“It’s dreadful. The rubbish is pretty disgraceful and this is unfair as well because other people are expected to clean it up.”

Mark Devlin, 45, of Grampian Gardens, said: “The amount of rubbish left behind is just ridiculous. It’s not fair that the council has to clean that up and it has ruined the area for everyone.”

The Travellers’ convoy went only as far as Riverside Drive but to privately-owned, rather than council-owned, land.

They were visited by a council officer with the police in attendance. They refused to speak to The Courier.

Councillor Willie Sawers, depute convener of policy and resources said: “I am angry that this is happening again. It is going to cost the council money to clear up the mess at a time when our budgets are hard-pressed and this is money we would rather spend on frontline services for the people of Dundee.

“I think this group of Travellers are exploiting a legal loophole that allows them to up sticks from one site to another and stay one step ahead of the law. I believe we need to enter into dialogue with the Scottish Government to see if there are any measures that can be taken at address this problem.”