Travellers plan to stay put at Technology Park

MEMBERS of the Travelling community say they have no plans to move out of D u n de e’s Te c h n olo g y Park almost a week after pitching up.

Caravans and work vans arrived last week before settling in a private car park on Gemini Crescent.

The mothballed building previously housed Millipore and Eurofins Discovery Services, but has no security measures to prevent access to the car park.

Workers at nearby premises said the Travellers entered the estate at around 2pm on Friday.

One Traveller told the Tele his group had used the area previously and didn’t intend to cause any trouble.

The man said the group was aware of the dedicated Travellers camp at Balmuir Wood in Tealing but that the site had been “rowdy” in the past.

“We are keeping the area tidy and have been bagging up all our rubbish,” he said. “We arrived here on Friday, it is our intention to stay as long as we can.”

Staff at neighbouring businesses said the Travellers had caused no problems but that damage had been caused in the past by previous groups.

Buildings at the other end of the business park have ramped up security in the past to deter Travellers from accessing vacant premises.

One worker said the old BT call centre building had been badly damaged in recent years.

He said: “The Travellers have never been to this side of the Technology Park.

“Historically, it has been the other side of the development.

“It is unclear who owns the building now, Eurofins operated out of the building in the past.

“Someone i nformed me the council now owns the building.”

Peter Menzies, West End Community Council chairman said: “There has been respite for more than two years now at the park in regards to Travellers.

“It’s disappointing to hear they have arrived back in the Technology Park.

“My immediate fear is that the area may get trashed given what has happened in the past.

“There was proposal for a new caravan site at Camperdown Park, but given changes to the budget I don’t know how likely that is now.”

A Dundee City Council spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the situation and will continue to monitor it.”

Caravans have been parked up at Dundee’s Technology Park since Friday.