A group of travellers have been forced out of St Margaret’s Park in Corstorphine, Edinburgh after less than a week on the site.
The encampment was first reported on the morning of 28 June, and locals were quick to raise the issue with police and local politicians, with the group promptly being given notice to quit by the council.
The group moved on before the notice could be actioned, however, and some scattered pieces of rubbish were left at the site, although the scale of the mess does not appear to have been quite as large as in other parks around the city.
The encampment in Corstorphine follows a series of unauthorised traveller encampments across the city, with the latest in Clermiston Park and Drum Brae causing consternation among residents because of piles of rubbish left there.
Another encampment at Newcraighall Park earlier in June caused outrage after reports that travellers had forced their way through a locked gate to gain access, with the local school forced to cancel their sports day because of the incident.
Huly Hill, a historic site in West Edinburgh, was occupied in May despite locals’ attempts to barricade the site. Travellers similarly broke through the fence to get past the concrete barriers residents had placed at the entrance following a previous encampment.
St Margaret’s Park does not appear to have suffered the same level of vandalism, but residents were still left shaken by the incident. Many believe the same group of travellers to be responsible for encampment across the capital, although this has not been verified.
Speaking anonymously, one resident said: “I’ve never seen travellers in the park before, so it was kind of jarring.
“They’re gone now though and didn’t leave a mess so no harm no foul.”
Images posted to social media show a few scattered pieces of rubbish left over from the encampment and patches of grass eroded where caravans and cars made their way through to the park.
Posting to social media, one local, Manu Ruiz Guti, called on the council to find a more permanent solution: “The issue is not only the impact on the park itself but also on the people who live around it. Residents should not have to watch their local green space become damaged or lose access to it.
“The council has a responsibility to find a more appropriate solution. If people need a place to stay, they should be provided with a suitable, properly managed camping or stopping site where they have access to facilities and where they are not tempted to go to small residential parks.”
He added: “That would be fairer both for them and for the established local community.”
Edinburgh does not currently have any permanent, managed halting or stopping sites for Gypsy/Traveller communities, forcing many of these itinerant groups into unauthorised encampments.
These unauthorised encampments are dealt with in line with Scottish Government guidance, involving legal notices to quit and – if necessary – involvement from Police Scotland.
A spokesperson for The City of Edinburgh Council said: “We became aware of an encampment in St Margaret’s Park at the end of June. While we served a Notice to Quit, the site was vacated before this was actioned.
“We’ll continue to manage sites in accordance with the Scottish Government guidance.”
The Gypsy/Traveller community is a legally recognised ethnic group in Scotland and travelling and migrating is recognised as an important part of their culture.
Under government guidelines, their nomadic rights must be balanced against local access to greenspaces and the needs of the settled community.
Responding to another encampment in Currie, which departed at the end of June, Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, said in a social media statement: “There have been several encampments across Edinburgh in recent weeks. At present, it is not clear whether this involves the same group moving between locations or new groups arriving in the city.
“I recognise that residents care deeply about their local parks and are concerned about loss of access and potential damage.”
He added: “Situations like this highlight the need for a more sustainable, long‑term approach.
“My view is that these issues would be easier to manage if the Council worked with residents to agree a designated site for travelling people to use while they are in Edinburgh.
“I recognise that many people have legitimate concerns and frustrations about the current situation.
“However, I would strongly discourage anyone from confronting the individuals involved or sharing images online that could identify people. It’s important that this issue is handled in a respectful and responsible way.”
The Scottish Government’s Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund makes up to £20m available to local councils between 2021 and 2026 to facilitate high-quality, energy-efficient, and culturally appropriate campsites.
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