SCOTS councils are cracking down on illegal gypsy traveller camps amid threats by businesses to quit some areas over the issue.

By Gerry Braiden

SCOTS councils are cracking down on illegal gypsy traveller camps amid threats by businesses to quit some areas over the issue.

Renfrewshire Council says more and more firms whose land is occupied by travellers have spoken about moving away because of the problem, damage caused and the perceived lack of action by the police and council.

The council claims it is now incurring "quite significant costs" in addressing the economic and environmental impacts of unauthorised gypsy traveller sites.

But the Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland said travellers had a right to live in Scotland and councils had a duty to provide adequate accommodation.

A spokesman said: "Later this year the Commission will launch a report into the provision of accommodation for gypsy travellers where we will make a series of recommendations for resolving some of the current and seemingly intractable tensions."

In an average year, Renfrewshire Council deals with 18 unauthorised travellers' sites.

The council claims that in addition to the £55,000 it has spent in the past three years protecting investment sites from illegal camps, companies are now seeking financial assistance to secure their own land from incursions.

A permanent travellers' facility was previously provided by the council but it was badly vandalised by residents and then shut in 1998.

Renfrewshire councillors have now backed a new approach to reduce the impact of unauthorised encampments.

Councillor Iain Nicolson, convenor of Renfrewshire planning and economic development board, said: "All of us involved in dealing with unauthorised encampments need to look seriously at their economic and environmental impact.

"If we can all improve approaches and response times when enforcement action is required, that can only be of benefit in minimising any adverse impact of the encampments."