Travellers move on from Dunsinane Industrial Estate
Travellers who set up camp at Dunsinane Industrial Estate in Dundee moved on at the weekend.
- Published in the Courier : 12.07.10
- Published online : 12.07.10 @ 12.48pm
The group arrived on Friday, were approached by police the following day and by Sunday morning had vacated the area.
However, travelling people who took up residence on land close to Birkhill Cemetery late last week were still there on Sunday night.
The camp falls just inside Dundee City Council's area on land owned by the local authority and lies just over the brow of the hill from the cemetery fence.
Strathmartine councillors Kevin Keenan, Stewart Hunter and Ian Borthwick have expressed their concern at the ongoing situation.
Mr Keenan said he had spoken to city council chief executive David Dorward and that the legal process of moving on the travellers was in place.
"I just really hope the travellers don't leave a mess behind, especially as it has a close proximity to the cemetery," he said.
"It's an ongoing concern and it's the taxpayer who has to pay for the clean-up of the sites after the travellers have left."
Mr Hunter said he will do all he could to have them moved on as soon as possible and would seek to minimise any distress the group could cause nearby residents and mourners.
Ward councillor and deputy lord provost Ian Borthwick said the travellers were a "perpetual nuisance."
"The ongoing situation with the travellers is of considerable concern and I sincerely hope the appropriate authorities take action as quickly as possible," he said.
It is the responsibility of the landowner to serve a notice on the unwanted guests and enforcement action can only be taken if the travellers have not moved on by the time that notice expires.
The legal process required to remove travellers can be a lengthy one.
A police spokesman said there had been no complaints made about the travellers at Dunsinane.
"Officers spoke to the group on Saturday morning and they seemed to be considering moving on," he said. "When we checked again yesterday they had gone."
Travellers' encampments have popped up across Tayside and Fife in recent weeks. Plots of land in Forfar, Montrose, Carnoustie, Barry and Glenrothes have all been used as impromptu campsites.
An approved camp for travellers has been provided at Balmuir Wood, Tealing.
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