Agreement after heated exchanges
Police and council officers were called in to move on a traveller community that had been occupying a former golf centre in Bannockburn.
Officers were involved in a heated exchange with the travellers at the former Brucefields Golf Centre on Friday morning.
It’s understood that they had been occupying the land, in Pirnhall Road, for around two weeks.
Officers arrived at the site on Friday and spoke with the families staying at the site.
After negotiations, an agreement was reached for the families to move on.
The landowner, Tulloch Homes, said that it had been trying since July 10, when the travellers first arrived, to achieve an “amicable solution, within a legally enforceable environment”.
A Tulloch Homes spokesman said: “We made an application to the Sheriff Court, while also liaising with Stirling Council and Police Scotland. The travellers should have left the property on two separate dates on the week beginning July 13, but did not do so.
“The sheriff officer, supported by police, visited the location this morning (Friday) with the intention of proceeding with an eviction. Discussions between the parties, however, produced an assurance from the travellers that if they were allowed to remain for the weekend they would vacate the area by 4pm on Monday, July 27.
“When this was referred to us, we were happy to accept this timetable in the hope of bringing the matter to a close. Once the property is vacated, we will be undertaking some cleaning-up measures.”
By Monday lunchtime most of the caravans had left the site and by Tuesday morning all families had left.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers visited the Pirnhall Road area of Bannockburn at around 9.30am on
Friday, July 24, to engage with the families staying at the site.
“As a result of discussions between partner agencies the group have since moved on safely and without incident.”
In June, the Scottish Government published a framework for supporting traveller communities on both public and private sites and in unauthorised encampments in Scottish local authorities during the coronavirus outbreak.
The key messages of the publication was focused on how travellers face additional risks during the Covid-19 crisis.
On Friday, March 21, COSLA group leaders unanimously agreed that travellers living roadside should be supported during this period, including access to basic sanitation and services - toilets, water, bins and wash facilities.