A notorious Scottish illegal travellers' site will be cleared out by the end of January, a Scottish Government Minister has promised.
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson, confirmed in a letter to Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP Ben MacPherson that travellers will be removed from the illegal site on Scottish Government land between West Granton Road and Waterfront Avenue in Edinburgh.
Locals have expressed outrage at the sheer mess | REDDITNearby residents behind the Granton B&M and Lidl stores have been outspoken in recent months about continued anti-social behaviour and regular fly-tipping fires at the site.
The Edinburgh Evening News reported that the letter from Mr Robertson said: "I have agreed to aim to have Scottish Government-owned land in Granton cleared and secured by the end of January 2026, dependent on alternative accommodation being identified and made available".
Mr Robertson added that his officials will engage with Edinburgh Council "as a matter of urgency".
Work is underway to determine the necessary formalities in relation to equality impact assessments.
"I expect the necessary legal work to commence which will likely result in a sheriff order to clear all occupants from the site," Mr Robertson said.
"I hope this timeline provides reassurances to the local community that delivering a resolution that balances the needs of all communities involved is a priority."
Scotland's Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has given a timeline for when the travellers will be removed
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The Scotland politician also said the site had been cleared of fly-tipped waste and there was active monitoring in place.
That also included a prevention strategy which was being implemented to minimise the risk of further fly-tipping.
Mr Robertson asked Mr MacPherson to share the information with the community stakeholders' group.
"I trust that this update will be welcomed by the community stakeholders," he said.
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Travellers are on the west side of the derelict land off Waterfront Avenue in Granton, Edinburgh
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One resident said it was "my understanding that elsewhere in Scotland unauthorised travellers do not require alternative accommodation to be moved on by councils or private landlords - so why on this site?"
"The fly-tipping has not been fully cleared from site at all," the resident said.
He further questioned if there was "any active monitoring or prevention of fly-tipping", saying three major fires have occurred since the letter.
"I can see fly-tipped waste on the land from my windows right now," the resident added.
"There was some clearing a couple of days after but the site is in no way clear."
The resident further said that the letter was "not welcome nor does it provide any assurances or actual commitments".
He said Mr Robertson "waxes about balancing the needs of all communities".
However, adding there was "no balancing the needs of all communities - it's just platitudes and condescension while a small handful of people basically do what they please with no consequences or responsibilities".
The resident claimed that the council officials and the fire service had capitulated to a perceived threat from "these unauthorised travellers" who are only a handful in number.
"Yet the residents who pay council tax and Scottish Government income tax have their services diminished," he said.
One of the travellers living on the site in Granton dismissed the letter and vowed to stay put.
"They will do well to get me out of here", he said.
"My wife is due the month after in February and our kids are happy at the local school. We are not moving."