Published: Thursday, 22nd July, 2010 7:25am

MSP demands answers from council over travellers

by Siew Peng Lee

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DUNFERMLINE East MSP Helen Eadie has taken Fife Council to task over its recent handling of travellers who pitched up on private land in Dalgety Bay.

A group of more than 30 caravans parked at vacant land at Ferris Way in Donibristle industrial estate earlier this month.

She convened a meeting on Monday, which included the police, Dalgety Bay Community Council, Fife Council officials, local councillors and representatives from Ingenico, Dynamic EMS and Rolls-Royce, to address the matter.

And it's now hoped Scottish Government guidelines and local residents acting as "eyes and ears" could help solve the problem.

Mrs Eadie told the Press, "In 2006, the Scottish Government did produce guidelines for unauthorised encampments like these.

"But the fact that none of us - meaning Fife Council - appears to have used those guidelines is something that merits some questions being asked.

"I've written to both the Scottish Government and Fife Council asking why it was that those guidelines were not put into operation.

"The guidelines say that where there's anything over 12 caravans, when they are pitched on private land, and it's not an authorised pitch, then it's possible for the powers that be to move the travelling people on.

"We have also identified that there are three authorised sites in Fife and there were pitches available."

The meeting also discussed the re-establishment of a business watch - with residents living on the periphery of the industrial estate invited to join.

Mrs Eadie said, "What we intend to do is build up relationships with one another.

"We have learned a lot from this occasion, so should something happen in the future we will be much more aware of what the legal situation is and the actions people can take.

"When people work collectively that can be so valuable and that intelligence-gathering will be automatically fed to the police."

It was the third time in a year that travellers had set up camp in the town and residents had complained about the mess created, with trash and human waste being left behind.

There were also complaints that travellers had drawn water from metered supplies without payment.

She added, "It's very clear that the travelling people have historically been a very important part of society and will continue to be an important part of society.

"But the important thing we recognise is that just as they have rights, the local community has equal rights as well."

Fiona McGregor, Fife Council's team manager supporting people and special needs, said Fife, along with several areas in Scotland, was experiencing an "unusual incidence of gypsy travellers" this summer.

She said, "Gypsy travellers are an ethnic minority group recognised by the equalities legislation and the council's co-operation policy.

"As such, it is our understanding they cannot simply be moved on unless there are specific reasons for doing so. Only the landowner can take action.

"When the camp is on council land, the housing and neighbourhood service will visit each camp and pursue court action for eviction only if there is nuisance or damage being caused.

"When the site is privately owned, the housing and neighbourhood service provides advice, information and support to the owner who will make their own decision about any necessary action.

"I am not aware that the guidelines Mrs Eadie refers to allow a different approach but I shall be contacting the Scottish Government today (Wednesday) for further clarification."