Fife Council is powerless to deal with illegal camps established by groups of Travelling people, a councillor has warned.
Ross Vettraino, representative for Glenrothes Central and Thornton, says even if suitable legislation existed, enforcing it would prove difficult given the scale of some of the sites.
He was speaking after a high-profile incident in Glenrothes where a group of Travelling people established a camp at the former Pico factory at the Eastfield Industrial Estate.
It is claimed the group broke through a security fence in the process, having been evicted from a site just miles away.
The incident has raised concerns over what can be done to tackle illegal camps. However, addressing fellow councillors and leading local police officers, Mr Vettraino said the council has very few powers to call on.
“What many people don’t realise is that there is almost nothing that the council can do,” he said.
“The problem seems to be getting bigger. At Eastfield the Travellers had 23-24 caravans, and they were supported by pickup trucks and lorries.
“Even if Fife Council had the authority to move them then, where would they start? And if we move them then where are they going to be moved to?
“Years ago we created three sites in Fife and they are still there. In fact, they are so well used that some people don’t travel anywhere.”
After the incident at Eastfield, business owners met police and council officials to discuss ways in which future issues could be tackled.
Described by Inspector Derek Paxton as “full and frank”, the meeting could lead to the establishment of a forum akin to a Business Watch scheme, where firms work together and inform each other of potential criminal activity in their area.
Mr Vettraino added: “Making legislation is easy but how you enforce it is the problem and nobody has come up with a solution yet.”