Travellers' camp by Inverness school worries parents

Travellers have set up near to Inverness Royal Academy

PUPILS making their way to an Inverness school are having to walk through a travellers’ encampment which has sprung up in the city.

And it is believed the caravans blocking an access route in Culduthel near Inverness Royal Academy had a few days before been on football fields used for training by Caley Thistle beside the Fort George army base and tourist attraction over the busy bank holiday weekend.

A concerned mum contacted the Highland News to say she was worried after spotting IRA pupils walking to school through the near-by camp at Culduthel Avenue on Tuesday.

Some of the eight trailers and pick-up trucks first appeared there on Sunday, but the majority moved in on Monday.

The mum, of Culduthel Mains, who would not be named for fear of reprisals, said: “I normally walk through the access route to take my children to playgroup in the Lochardil area, but I simply couldn’t use it on Tuesday morning because of the encampment blocking it.

“But what was most concerning is IRA pupils were walking through the encampment. To me, this is a safety issue as there are gas cylinders not being properly stored, a large generator and dogs.

“I phoned Highland Council to complain, but they say their hands are tied because travellers have rights. However, I believe we have rights, especially safety rights - we pay council tax.

“The situation needs to be addressed by Highland Council.”

A Culduthel Avenue resident said she was anxious about the travellers nearby.

She said: “It makes me nervous and apprehensive, because of how close they are. Their dogs have also been running in our gardens.”

Another resident said she noticed two or three caravans on Monday morning.

She added: “But be tea-time, there was a few of them queuing to get in. It’s ridiculous having to put up with this.”

When the Highland News visited the camp on Tuesday, the travellers refused to comment.

It is understood some of the trailers had moved on Monday from a camp beside Fort George on playing fields used for training by Inverness Caley Thistle.

The encampment of half a dozen caravans had set up home on the pitches last Tuesday on Ministry of Defence (MoD) land.

By this Tuesday, just one caravan remained – as well as rubbish left strewn around.

The fields are regularly used by Caley footballers to train, and MoD signs around the site warn against unauthorised access.

Regarding the Culduthel Avenue camp, a Highland Council spokeswoman said it appeared to be on council land.

She said the council does not discriminate against gypsy travellers, and “recognises the same standards of behaviour are expected from all members of the community, whether gypsy/travellers or the settled population, based on mutual respect and with equal rights, responsibilities, entitlements and obligations”.

She added: “The council will not needlessly evict gypsy travellers from land that we own. We are aware of the gypsy/traveller encampment at Culduthel Avenue and are liaising with the people here, and relevant public agencies and services under the Highland Council member-approved policy on managing unauthorised camping.

Neither the council nor Inverness Royal Academy wanted to comment on the issue of pupils walking through the camp.

A Northern Constabulary spokeswoman said it was carrying out enquiries with Highland Council regarding the camp at Culduthel and confirmed it had been contacted by MoD police about the camp near Fort George.

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