Take a closer look at the travellers

Aug 14 2009

I WOULD like to reply to Keiran who wrote in last week's issue of the Ayrshire Post.

It is obvious that Keiran has never had travellers moving to an area near his house or moved on to spare ground at his business premises.

There are traveller's sites throughout Ayrshire which some choose not to use as they have to pay a minimum fee to get the use of toilets, showers and every other facility which has been made available to them.

Keiran has obviously not had his place of business used as a site for 10 or more vans with maybe five or more people per van who do not use the bathroom facilities in their van as it is close to their cooking facilities; therefore you have 50 or more people using doorways, car parks hedges etc as toilets.

The legal process takes approximately 10 days, that's a lot of human waste. The council supplies bin bags if you notify them when they arrive, but you do not get free collection service or help to clean up the mess left behind, you are on your own. You secure your premises against possible problems and wait it out, then get on with the clear up.

I suggest Keiran takes a look about the areas where travellers have settled and spend some time using his eyes to see what it is all about before he puts pen to paper, as in all walks of life there are nice and not so nice people and travellers are no exception. When you get a not so nice set of travellers you will know all about it.

The site set up near luxury housing should not get special treatment. MPs and MSPs should be there for all. How many businesses have had a visit from a Member of Parliament and a subsequent write-up in the front page of the paper.

Name and address supplied.