Travellers stay put at camp in Inverness – they arrived earlier this week with Saturday's Torvean Parkrun put in doubt
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A group of Travellers who set up a makeshift camp in an Inverness park had not moved on today.
They arrived at Torvean Park earlier this week with their presence prompting members of the public to contact their local councillors.
Highland Council has been made aware of the unauthorised encampment and a spokesman said: “Our staff are liaising with the people involved and progressing the ‘policy on supporting co-operation and managing unauthorised camps’, which sets out the multi-agency responsibilities and arrangements for responding to roadside encampments.”
Inverness resident Peter Campbell contacted the Inverness Courier after visiting the site and said: “We were appalled by what we saw.
“A sprawling camp, barking dogs chained up, rubbish dumped in bushes, adults and children defecating on the edge of the woods in broad daylight.”
He said while they were there a council officer was present and he felt policies should be in place to move such groups on more quickly.
It was feared that tomorrow’s Torvean Parkrun could be cancelled after their arrival, but event director Wendy Skinner said earlier this week it had not yet been called off.
She said: “We are hopeful of the run going ahead – we’re still assessing the situation and will update runners via Facebook on Friday.”
The Inverness Courier approached the Travellers but they did not wish to make a statement.
Councillor Duncan Macpherson, who represents residents in the Inverness South ward of Highland Council, claimed the park was effectively a no-go area for families and added: “Local constituents have been contacting me and my fellow councillors to alert us all to the presence of the large group of travellers.
“[They were] seeking advice on how to remedy this situation, as the new Torvean Park has effectively become out of bounds for local families to visit.”
