Highlands and Islands Enterprise forced to spend thousands after travellers’ two-week stay at Forres Enterprise Park
The owners of a business park have confirmed travellers caused £5000-worth of damage during a two-week stay earlier this summer.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has footed the bill to return Forres Enterprise Park to its previous condition, following the illegal encampment which has become a near annual event.
A HIE spokesman confirmed 12 caravans and numerous vehicles occupied the field next to Horizon Scotland’s building from May 21 to June 3.
He said: “There was damage to bollards and lighting, and there was rubbish and waste left on site.
“A clean-up operation began after the travellers left. The combination of labour hours and the cost of removing the waste was around £5000 from HIE’s own funding.
“It is disappointing to have to spend from our limited budget on such things when this money could have been put to better use.”
James Thompson-Slaven, member of Life & Sole gym at the far end of the park, witnessed the travellers arrival and immediately reported it to HIE.
He said: “I was driving onto the site for an appointment with a massage therapist when I was stopped by vehicles and caravans blocking the road at the roundabout.
“I saw a large man of 45-50 years of age and two younger males in their late teens/early twenties removing wooden posts at the edge of the field.
“I forced the vehicles blocking my way to move, and drove to the property management building, requesting police be informed.
“Later in the week rubbish was appearing all over the site, as well rocks thrown around in the car park beside the land they camped on.
“I was interviewed in the treatment room by the police. I also volunteered to go to the site to point out the older male removing the posts.”
HIE confirmed the police were called by a Horizon Scotland employee who does not wish to be identified.
Police Scotland were unable to recall the details of the encampment without an incident number, which HIE did not provide.
A police spokesperson referred to this Scottish Government website link instead.
The travellers camped close to the entrance to Forres Enterprise Park, a few hundred metres from the A96. The wider site currently hosts around 10 businesses with scores of employees, many of whom preferred not to talk to the press about the travellers’ repeat stays.
However, one man - who wants to remain anonymous - claimed the visitors left piles of furniture, industrial waste, washing machines, tumble dryers, bikes, toys, logs and trees.
He added: “There were a few open fire spots on the field too.”
Another at a different business suggested HIE use boulders instead of wooden bollards to prevent access to the site in future.
Engineer Gary Mackintosh is based at the enterprise park.
He said: “Their stones, scooters and dogs were annoying as they were in the way when we tried to get to the building we work in. The receptionist actually had to secure the door because of it.
“The travellers used the bushes for toilets and left toilet roll everywhere. Many employees, including myself, felt we had to park elsewhere while they were here.”
Gary believes there would be less of an issue if the travellers worked with the folk in the areas they visited.
He added: “It would be good if they didn’t leave such a mess and allowed other people to go about their everyday lives unaffected.”
His colleague Joe Galloway was similarly put off by some of the actions of the visitors including smashing glass and leaving scooters lying around in the car park.
He said: “The sound of their generators was annoying and they had a cockerel which made a lot of noise in the morning too.
“But the adults seemed OK and their kids were just being kids I suppose.
“Travelling around for work is a romantic notion but the practicalities that go with this lifestyle have to be addressed. The authorities should provide somewhere appropriate for them to camp in future.”
The owner of a business on the park, who prefers to remain anonymous, believes the costs of the travellers’ stays is pushed on as a service charge to resident firms.
“They parked in our car park one year,” he said. “They cut the padlock off the gate to get in then claimed that they didn’t and the lock was already like that!
“We’re obviously concerned about our property when any group lives here for weeks and does whatever they want. Leaving the place wrecked is not acceptable.
“The council should provide an alternative place where they can go.“
Moray Councillor Scott Lawrence (Forres, SNP) confirmed work is ongoing Scotland-wide, looking at authorised sites for the travelling community.
He said: “Some local authorities have dedicated officers and permanent facilities in place - Moray currently has neither.
“We should look at the positive effects investment in these areas could have for everyone concerned. It is also worth considering the money that could be saved through reduced clean-up costs.”
Local authority leader Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative) said any damage to open spaces is disappointing.
She added: “I would expect the same level of respect from anyone enjoying them. From going for a walk, to having a picnic or indeed encampments, there should be no need for extensive clear-up operations or investigations afterwards.
“The council’s Unauthorised Encampment Officer will continue to work with the traveller community to pursue a positive solution to the issues that repeatedly crop up.”
The Unauthorised Encampments Officer conducted an inspection when the site was vacated and retained an audit trail of the information gathered.
A council spokesperson said: “As the landowner is responsible for remedial works, Moray Council had no further involvement in this site.
“Preventing and detecting criminal offences is a matter for the police.”
