Highland Council cites camps policy after Travellers leave ‘trail of damage’ at city park
Highland Council will “continue to follow the policy on supporting cooperation and managing unauthorised camps” after it was claimed Travellers had left “a trail of damage” at an Inverness park.
We reported earlier today how Inverness South councillor Duncan Macpherson shared pictures on his Facebook account purporting to show damage to ground an other infrastructure at the park as well as discarded rubbish after Travellers moved on from the site where they had arrived ahead of last weekend.
Parkrun events that regularly take place at the park over the weekend were cancelled by organisers after the Travellers arrived.
Councillor Macpherson said: “The area has been left in an unacceptable state, with large amounts of rubbish strewn across the park, work materials discarded, garden waste dumped and sections of the grass torn up,”
Questioned about plans to restore the site and any measures that might be taken to make it harder for vehicles to gain access in the future a Highland Council spokesperson said: “The site has now been vacated, and we continue to follow the policy on supporting cooperation and managing unauthorised camps which can be viewed on our website: www.highland.gov.uk/gypsytravellerspolicy”
The policy states that whether a housing lead contact at the council is made aware of a roadside Gypsy or Traveller camp in the area they will visit to establish a “working relationship”.
Among other steps that may be taken where the land being used is council-owned are confirmation of a leaving date with the camp, with a further site visit on the date of departure and a decision made then about whether any reinstatement or enforcement action is necessary.
The policy further states: “In Scotland there is a presumption against prosecution where the sole issue in relation to an encampment is the physical occupation of land by Gypsies/ Travellers.
“The Highland Council is committed to working for a Highland that includes and supports all children and adults to lead fulfilled and productive lives, free from poverty and discrimination. We welcome people of all faiths, nationalities and backgrounds who wish to live, study, work or visit here. And are committed to listening and responding to communities, valuing their diversity and treating everyone with respect.”
It is understood some Travellers have set up a camp on wasteland near Inverness Shopping Park. It is not known if it is the same group who were at Torvean Park.
