The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Police move in to evict A9 camper again
Homeless: Pensioner, 72, agreed to leave the site and is now receiving support from Perth and Kinross Council department
One of Scotland’s busiest roads was closed for more than an hour yesterday as authorities took action to evict roadside camper Charles Ingram for a second time.
The pensioner, who lived in his car beside the A9 for more than three years, was removed by police and Transport Scotland officers. The trunk roads authority claimed his makeshift encampment was becoming a hazard.
Mr Ingram, 72, was first evicted from layby 52, south of the House of Bruar, in September 2015.
He spent the last two years drifting between locations, including the Rannoch area and Broxden, before reappearing at the same location on the A9 in November. Originally living in a Mercedes, this had been replaced by a 14-year-old Fiat Panda.
The stretch between Blair Atholl and Dalnacardoch was closed to traffic in both directions just after 11am as the operation to remove Mr Ingram got under way.
It is understood he agreed to leave the site peacefully and is now being offered support by Perth and Kinross Council’s homeless unit.
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “Transport Scotland takes its responsibility for the management of the trunk road network extremely seriously and we have a responsibility to reduce risk to drivers.
“Unauthorised encampments within the trunk road boundary are a distraction and a hazard to traffic with the potential to increase accidents.”
She said: “Before deciding to pursue legal action we consider the specifics of the case, the impact of leaving the issue unresolved and the safety of all of those concerned.”
In 2015, Mr Ingram was charged over an altercation with court officers who were sent to enforce an eviction order.
Perth Sheriff Court later heard Mr Ingram struck official Roderick Stevenson with a mug, causing him to bleed from the head.
Mr Ingram was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £100 in compensation.
He had parked his Mercedes at the roadside in 2012 after reportedly losing his money in a business dispute.
He became a familiar sight to motorists and inspired a documentary Man on Layby 52 by filmmakers Ruaridh M Turner and Beth Woodruff.
The route was reopened by 12.20pm. There was little evidence of the encampment left behind, apart from a scattering of sweet papers and newspapers, and an impromptu stile over a nearby fence.
jabuchan@thecourier.co.uk