Eviction threat to Poles forced to camp in woods

COUNCIL chiefs have moved to evict a group of Polish men, previously targeted by racists, from their makeshift campsite in the Capital.

• The friends have come under repeated attack from racist thugs

A council official delivered a letter to the four men living in woods in Orchard Brae informing them their temporary home was an "illegal occupation".

The friends were ordered to leave the area or face court proceedings.

The campers were left "very worried" by the threat of being evicted from the land while they spent their days searching for work in the Capital.

Three of the men managed to secure jobs before the council's deadline of October 5, but it is understood one of the men may still be sleeping rough.

Each had been in the UK for too short a period to be eligible for housing or benefits, leaving them homeless until they clubbed together to buy the tent in late August.

As previously reported in the News their home came under attack from youths who repeatedly trashed the campsite and stole their belongings.

One of the men, a 25-year-old who has lived in Edinburgh for the past seven months, said: "I can't understand why the council would do it. We only needed somewhere to stay while we looked for a job, which was very hard at the moment.

"The council weren't able to help us with housing so why did they want to kick us out of the tent as well?

"Luckily I managed to get a job at a guesthouse and they have allowed me to sleep there until I have the money for other accommodation.

"We all hoped the tent was a temporary measure as we didn't want to sleep outside in the winter. It seems strange to do that to people with little options."

The local authority moved for their eviction from the council-owned land following complaints from residents about litter.

Local councillor Stuart McIvor visited their campsite to give advice to the men after reading about their plight in the Evening News last month.

He said: "They were very worried about what would happen. I told them not to be too concerned as the legal proceedings would give them time to find alternatives.

"I appreciated that the council's hands were tied in terms of the eviction. These men weren't entitled to housing benefit but they weren't scroungers."

A council spokesman said: "If anyone approaches us for help with accommodation but they have no recourse to public funds then our hands are tied by UK legislation. However, we would put them in contact with relevant support agencies."