Amid allegations that it is blighting a community and damaging business prospects, it has taken two weeks for legal action to begin against a Travellers’ camp.
The group has twice ignored deadlines to quit the prime site unlawfully occupied on the outskirts of Perth, apparently without penalty.
Council officers finally applied for legal sanction to move the caravans on under the Crime and Public Order Act (1994) on Tuesday.
The Travellers have still to quit, however, and, with the council reporting that it is “monitoring the situation”, a councillor has now called for an urgent review of local authority policies and procedures as the unlawful occupation continues.
Last week Willie Wilson raised fears that their presence could deter new firms from investing in the area, which is adjacent to new office premises and forms part of the council’s plans to attract business.
He told The Courier that he had received a flood of calls from local residents concerned about sanitation, amenity, litter and security.
Sites around the Broxden Business Park adjacent to the popular residential area of Oakbank have been targeted repeatedly in recent years.
Land next to the Broxden dental practice has been used on more than one occasion, with significant debris and rubbish left behind, while the Lamberkine Drive site currently being occupied was secured against incursion after it was used by Travellers last year.
The site of the former monastery on Riggs Road in the centre of Perth also saw large amounts of refuse and human waste left behind.
Councillor Wilson, who represents the Perth City South ward, said: “I have been really frustrated at the lack of progress on this matter over the past two weeks.
“I will be asking for an urgent review of the council’s policies and procedures regarding Travelling people. It should not take two weeks for a notice to be served.”
Mr Wilson said he would be liaising closely with officers of the council to ensure that the occupants now quit the site and that the area is left clean and tidy.
“I have also asked for urgent action to be taken for the fence to be repaired to prevent any further invasion of the council land,” he added.
A council spokesman explained the difficulties involved in moving on unauthorised encampments, though the authority’s comments suggest that tough action will not be an immediate response.
He said: “When an encampment is set up our officers regularly visit and encourage the travellers to move. In the vast majority of cases, travellers move of their own volition after a few days.
“It is difficult for a local authority to secure the removal of an unauthorised encampment through legal processes unless its presence is causing serious problems, for example because a camp is becoming a health hazard or is getting in the way of traffic.
“If the council does wish to move an encampment, it is expected to take the welfare of the Travellers into account before doing so. In order to evict an unauthorised encampment, a warrant requires to be obtained from a court.
“These can be difficult to secure within a timescale which the public may expect. The encampment has caused no environmental problems and we understand that Police Scotland have no concerns.”
Police Scotland said: “Tayside Division will work closely with the local authorities and the Gypsy Travellers liaison officer, in particular, where unauthorised encampments appear, in an effort to resolve the issue to everyone’s satisfaction.
“While we are aware that Travellers have been camping in this area in recent days, there have been no particular issues or concerns raised with the police.”