A group of Travellers have moved to yet another camp, this time in Dundee’s Technology Park, leaving a trail of illegally dumped rubbish in their wake.
Yet again the council will help the clean-up operation at the previous site in Riverside Drive, close to the airport and the costs will be passed to the landowners.
The rubbish left behind includes piles of bricks and tarmac, gas canisters, household waste, a child’s bike, an abandoned caravan and what is thought to be human excrement.
Around 15 caravans have now appeared at the former General Accident call centre, now vacant, in the west of the Technology Park.
It is thought they gained access by driving over the grass embankment from Riverside Avenue as the road entrance to the site has been blocked for some time.
The site is owned by Aviva Investors, who would have to start legal action if they want to evict the traveller group from their property.
Fraser Macpherson, West End City councillor, is angry at yet another illegal site occupation and the appalling state left at the Riverside Drive site.
He said: “Leaving or dumping a large amount of rubbish right next to an airport runway is nothing short of thoroughly irresponsible.
“I have been in touch with the council’s head of democratic and legal services about the legal situation and the mess that is being left at sites.
“Clearly, Riverside Business Park is in private ownership, so the clean-up cost should not be borne by the council taxpayer.
“But the bottom line for me is the people who dump this huge amount of rubbish should be made to pay for clearing up the mess.
“The council is not anti-Traveller. There is a properly serviced site up at Balmuir Wood they could use rather than have this continued cat-and-mouse game.”
He also urged private property owners to ensure they had adequate security to prevent becoming victims of illegal occupation.
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “Travellers have moved encampment to a site at Explorer Road. Staff from the environment department have been cleaning up and assessing the site with a view to returning on Monday to complete the task.
“The land owner has been consulted and the cost of the clean-up will be passed to them.”