Dundee City Council Takes Legal Action Against Traveller Encampments Over Two Dozen Times

Strategic Insights -

Dundee City Council has been increasingly reliant on taking legal action against unauthorised Traveller encampments, with a total of 29 instances since 2022. The most recent numbers show that in 2022, the council took action twice, rising to eight times in 2023, and ten times in 2024. As of May this year, legal action has been taken nine times. The exact costs of the action taken in 2022 and 2023 are unknown, but the council revealed that in 2024, £1,602.81 was spent, and £721.44 so far this year.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dundee City Council has taken legal action against Traveller encampments 29 times since 2022.
  • The council took action twice in 2022, eight times in 2023, and ten times in 2024.
  • As of May this year, legal action has been taken nine times.
  • The cost of the legal action taken in 2024 was £1,602.81, with £721.44 spent so far this year.
  • The council's repair and maintenance bill for the Balmuir Wood Travellers' site since 2019 has been £335,659, including £126,000 spent in 2022-23.
  • A further £236,656 was allocated for the upgrade of the amenity blocks at the site, set to be completed this month.
  • Legal action is taken as the last available measure in order to deal with unauthorised encampments.
  • The most recent encampment was reported at the Riverside Nature Reserve, with previous instances also occurring at Camperdown Park and Balmuir Wood.

Statistics:

  • 29 instances of legal action taken against Traveller encampments since 2022.
  • 2 times in 2022, 8 times in 2023, and 10 times in 2024.
  • £1,602.81 spent on legal action in 2024.
  • £721.44 spent on legal action so far this year.
  • £335,659 spent on repairs at the Balmuir Wood Travellers' site since 2019.
  • £126,000 spent on repairs in 2022-23.
  • £236,656 allocated for the upgrade of amenity blocks at Balmuir Wood.
  • £300,000 spent on repairs at the Dundee council-run Travellers' site at Balmuir Wood in previous years.

Sources:

  • "Freedom of information data showed that the [Balmuir Wood] camp had been unoccupied for 17 months out of the previous 72" - The Courier, January 2024
  • "Dundee City Council's repair and maintenance bill for Balmuir Wood since 2019 was £335,659" - The Courier, January 2024
  • "Legal action is taken as the last available measure in order to deal with unauthorised encampments" - Dundee City Council spokesperson