Perth council considering new Travellers site - Perth and Kinross

From thetele.co.uk

Perth and Kinross Council is looking at another possible site for the Travelling community.

The move comes after a group of Irish Travellers was asked to leave Perth on Tuesday.

A group of eight caravans had pitched up at the city’s Broxden Park and Ride facility.

A legal notice to quit was served on the Travellers at noon that day by the local authority.

This was the second time in a matter of months that Travellers had arrived at the Park and Ride — a different group made camp there in October last year.

A council spokesperson said: “Perth and Kinross Council acknowledges that Gypsy/Traveller communities have specific requirements and is committed to ensuring they receive the same level of protection from discrimination and abuse as the rest of the area’s minority ethnic communities.

“The council is working to identify land which could be used to establish further permanent sites as well as transit sites for Gypsy/Travellers.”

Some Travellers are based at the Double Dykes caravan site, located on the outskirts of Perth, which has been in existence officially for more than 30 years. However, it has been suggested that it cannot meet the demand.

The contentious issue has led councillor Willie Wilson, one of the representatives for the Perth City South ward, to say: “We need to find official sites for Travellers over and above the current provision.”