A SCOTTISH council is facing a public backlash over moves to build a dedicated transit campsite for gypsies costing £50,000.
Opposition is mounting after Inverclyde Council announced a consultation on proposals to use part of a local park in Port Glasgow to house the small encampment.
Under the plans, a small area of Kelburn Park to the east of the town would be sectioned off and a hard standing area prepared for 12 pitches with fresh water, portable toilets and rubbish collections.
The council argues the move is necessary because travellers have been set up unauthorised camps on sensitive sites in the area, causing concern to residents.
Having a single dedicated site that can be used by gypsies as they travel through the area will provide a better long-term solution, officials believe.
However, residents and some councillors have already spoken out against the proposals arguing they will remove a valuable green space from public use.
Councillor Jim MacLeod believes the plans "make no sense" and an online petition opposing the move has already attracted more than 500 signatures.
However, the council's education and communities convener Terry Loughran defended the consultation. "We have to do something as we cannot allow the current situation to continue," he said. "Officers are unable to take legal action against unauthorised camps because we have no alternative to offer and a transit site will allow officers to deal with unauthorised camps across Inverclyde quickly and minimise any costs or disruption.
"We will listen to any concerns raised by the consultation and, indeed, any other proposals that may come to light. No final decision will be made until the full facts have been considered."
Mr Loughran said the majority of travellers were being stigmatised by the anti-social actions of a minority.
Representatives from the gypsy travelling community have indicated an official transit site in Inverclyde would be welcomed.
The consultation runs from today for five weeks until Friday 30 August 2013. Information stands will be set up in Inverclyde's libraries and drop-in surgeries held in Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock.
An online survey will also be available for the wider community and businesses and a meeting arranged with key members of Community Councils.
Use of unauthorised sites in Inverclyde has resulted in regular complaints about alleged illegal dumping of garden and commercial waste and unhygienic disposal of human waste.
Eight sites have been used by travellers in the past few years – including an area behind shops at the Greenock Waterfront retail park, the former Gantock Hotel site and Faulds Park in Gourock; and Newark Castle, Newark slipway, Parklea and Woodhall, all in Port Glasgow.
Discussions were held about the possibility of establishing a joint transit facility with the three neighbouring authorities of Glasgow, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, but a council report states"it became clear that there was no appetite from neighbouring authorities to develop any such joint proposal".
Mr Loughran added: "The proposal is not to provide a state-of-the-art camp for travellers, but to provide a basic transit site for short stays.
"The council has a legal duty to meet the needs of gypsy travellers and to help them preserve their traditional lifestyle while giving them access to health and education services.
"Unauthorised camps are a major issue for the council and our communities so it is vital that we come up with a solution.
"An official site would help mitigate the problems and also provide a better environment for gypsy travellers."
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