Campaign call as travellers in ‘horrendous’ conditions

A PUBLIC awareness campaign to reduce discrimination against travellers has been demanded by a Holyrood committee, as it found many continue to live in appalling conditions.

A national government-led drive is needed to ensure zero tolerance of discrimination against traveller people, the equal opportunities committee said.

MSPs witnessed “horrendous” conditions at gypsy-traveller sites, such as freezing amenity blocks and an overflowing septic tank. Strong leadership from the Scottish Government was needed, the committee said, suggesting an existing minister be given a new role to focus on
supporting travellers.

MSPs took evidence from travellers and visited sites in Edin­burgh, Dalkeith, Perth, Pitlochry, Oban and Lochgilphead.

“When we visited sites we saw some horrendous conditions for ourselves,” the MSPs said in the report.

“We were deeply disturbed to see that families paying rent to their local council were expected to bathe young children in freezing cold amenity blocks with extortionate heating costs, and that elderly and disabled people might have to go outside to a toilet block in the middle
of a cold, winter’s night.”