The Twice Yearly Count – No. 14: July 2008
GYPSIES/TRAVELLERS IN SCOTLAND
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

The July 2008 Count recorded an estimated 744 households living on sites and
encampments in Scotland. This is estimated to represent a population of around
2,455 people, lower than the 2,823 people reported in July 2007.

313 households were staying in Council/Registered Social Landlord (RSL) sites, 162
on private sites and 269 in unauthorised encampments. Comparable figures for July
2007 were 286 households on Council/RSL sites, 155 on private sites and 407 in
unauthorised encampments.

This is the first July Count in 4 years to show a decrease in the number of
unauthorised encampments. 27 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities report periodic
experience of unauthorised encampments by Gypsies/Travellers in their area over the
last 6 months. This includes East Lothian and Midlothian, both of which experienced
encampment activity. At the time of the Count, 48 separate encampments were
recorded across 19 local authority areas; these varied in size from 1 to 30 households.

A total of 1,839 caravans had been recorded visiting unauthorised encampments in
Scotland over the six months up to and including the day of the Count. Fife had the
largest number of caravans visiting over this period.
The majority of
Gypsies/Travellers on encampments had travelled to their destination from within
Scotland.

In 2008, 42% of households were living on sites owned by Councils or RSLs, 22%
on privately owned sites and 36% on unauthorised encampments. This represents an
increase of 16% in the summer Council/RSL population since 2001, the highest
number of households recorded since July 2001.

16 Council/RSL sites were operating at their current capacity, 8 of these at their full
capacity. 2 sites were unoccupied at the time of the Count. All of the seasonal sites
had 80% or more of their pitches occupied.

42% of Council/RSL sites had been in their tenancy for less than a year, 32% for 1 to
5 years and 26% for over 5 years.

44% of the population on Council/RSL sites is aged under 19 years, compared to
23% of the wider population; on the other hand, only 7% are over 60 years old,
compared to 22% in the wider population.

A total of 21 private sites (commercial or private developments) were identified as
available to Gypsies/Travellers. This consisted of 16 year round and 5 seasonal sites.
The number of households on private sites continues to increase to 162 households,
5% higher than the number reported in July 2007.
A report by Craigforth on behalf of
Scottish Government Social Research
1
CONTENTS
Page
1.
INTRODUCTION
4
2.
OVERALL TRENDS
5
3.
COUNCIL/RSL SITES
11
4.
PRIVATE SITES
18
5.
UNAUTHORISED ENCAMPMENTS
22
6.
APPENDIX
29
29
INDEX OF TABLES
Acknowledgement
Thanks to all the local authority and Registered Social Landlord (RSL) staff who
assisted with the completion of the July 2008 Count
2
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 2.1:
Figure 2.2:
Figure 2.3:
Figure 3.1:
Figure 4.1:
Figure 5.1:
Figure 5.2:
Gypsies/Travellers Population – Summer and Winter 2001 to 2008
Summer Population of Gypsies/Travellers July 2001 to July 2008
Distribution of All Households and Gypsies/Travellers
Households July 2008
Number of Households on Council/ RSL Sites (Summer)
July 2001 to July 2008
Number of Households on Private Sites (Summer) July 2001 to
July 2008
Number of Households on Unauthorised Encampments (Summer)
July 2001 to July 2008
Size of Unauthorised Encampments July 2008
5
7
10
14
19
23
25
INDEX OF TABLES
Table 2.1:
Table 2.2:
Table 3.1:
Table 3.2:
Table 3.3:
Table 4.1:
Table 4.2:
Table 5.1:
Table 5.2:
Gypsies/Travellers Households by Local Authority Area and Type
of Site July 2005 – July 2008
Change in Summer (July) Households by Region
Pitch Provision and Occupancy by Local Authority Area July
2008
Demographic Comparison Gypsies/Travellers living on
Council/RSL Sites and Scotland as a whole
Length of Tenancy Profile by Local Authority Area July 2008
Households Living on Private Sites by Local Authority Area July
2008
Private Sites identified at July 2008
Visits to Known Encampments Locations
Number of Households on Unauthorised Encampments (Summer)
July 2005 to July 2008
8
9
13
15
17
20
20
26
28
Figure 2.1: Gypsies/Travellers Population – Summer and Winter 2001 to 2008 ........5
3
1.
INTRODUCTION
Gypsies/Travellers are a small but distinctive ethnic and cultural minority
within the Scottish population. The Scottish Government recognises that
Gypsies/Travellers have specific requirements and should receive the same level of
protection from prejudice and discrimination as other ethnic minority groups in
Scotland.
The current definition of Gypsies/Travellers excludes Travelling
Showpeople/Circus and New (Age) Travellers.
1.1
In July 1998, the former Scottish Executive (now Scottish Government)
introduced a series of Twice Yearly Counts of this population (undertaken in January
and July) to establish standardised and consistent estimates across Scotland. The
purpose of the Count is to understand more fully the characteristics of this population
and to assist and inform the development of public policies and services for
Gypsies/Travellers, both nationally and locally.
1.2
The Count is based on an estimate of the number of Gypsy/Traveller
households living on:
1.3
 Sites provided by Councils or Registered Social Landlords (RSLs)
 Privately owned sites
 Unauthorised encampments.
It is therefore a Count of the site/encampment based population only and
does not seek to capture those living in ordinary housing. It can be difficult to
identify Gypsies/Travellers in ordinary housing, as many do not want to make their
ethnicity known and do not identify themselves to their local authority, other
organisations or even other Gypsies/Travellers.
1.4
Travelling extensively for some or all of the year has become less common
than in the past for some of the Scottish based Gypsy/Traveller population. This
appears particularly true of those who have become settled for long periods of time on
official Council/RSL or private sites. For others, travelling is still very much part of
their culture and lifestyle.
1.5
The incidence of travelling means that the population of Gypsies/Travellers
in Scotland can vary considerably at different points in time. Previous Counts have
demonstrated that the summer months are much more popular times for travelling,
although some local authorities do report encampments all year round.
1.6
Due to unforeseen circumstances, no permanent Site Manager was in post at
West Lothian Council for a period of several months. This has meant that no records
were kept about Gypsy/Traveller activity in the area for that period. A Site Manager
is now in post and information has been supplied for questions examining activity on
the day of the Count. However, it has not been possible to supply data for some of the
questions looking at longer term activity over the six month period. We have
referenced this gap in the data where this has been a factor in the analysis.
1.7
4
2.
OVERALL TRENDS
2.1 Between 2001 and 2004, the summer (July) Gypsy/Traveller population has
fluctuated around 600 households. From 2005 onwards, this number began to
increase significantly to around 700 in 2005 and 2006. The July 2007 Count saw a
continuation of this trend with a substantial increase to 848 households, a 33%
increase in the number of households since summer 2001. However, in July 2008,
the number of households recorded was 744, a 12% decrease from July 2007. The
January 2008 Count saw a similar decrease of 17% from January 2007. Overall, the
number of Gypsy/Traveller households has continued to increase by 17% since 2001
with 2008 the second highest year since 2001.
2.2 This year’s Gypsy/Traveller population is estimated at 744 households,
representing an estimated population of 2,455 people. This accounts for 0.05% of the
overall Scottish population. This estimate is based on applying an average household
size of 3.3 and is discussed further in the later section on Council/RSL sites.
2.3 As can be seen from Figure 2.1 below, the general trend, in which the summer
population is consistently greater than in winter, has not been affected. The January
2008 Count has demonstrated a similar trend to that of the July 2008 Count, which
can be seen in Figure 2.1 below.
Figure 2.1: Gypsies/Travellers Population – Summer and Winter 2001 to 2008
900
Number of Households
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Summer
5
Winter
Distribution
2.4 There has been changes in the distribution of this population by type of site. In
2001, the largest proportion (42%) was to be found on Council sites, followed by
private sites (31%), with the smallest found on unauthorised encampments (26%).
By 2006 this balance had completely changed in favour of unauthorised
encampments, and this trend continued into 2007 where the largest proportion (48%)
were to be found on unauthorised encampments; with a reduced proportion on
Council/RSL sites (34%) and on private sites (18%).
2.5 For the first time since 2006, Council/RSL sites have accounted for the majority
of the summer population. The number of households on Council/RSL sites has
increased by 9% to 313 households in July 2008 from the previous year, accounting
for 42% of all households. This represents an increase of 16% since 2001, and is the
highest number of households recorded in Council/RSL accommodation since 2001.
2.6 The number of households on private sites has also increased since 2007 by 5%
to 162 households, which comprises 22% of all households. However, in the longer
term, compared to the 2001 figures, households recorded on private sites have
decreased by 18%. Nevertheless, it should be noted that 2001 has been shown to be
an exceptionally high year. Looking at 2002 onwards, the July 2008 Count has seen
the highest number of households on private sites.
2.7 The number of households on private sites has varied considerably over time.
While figures suggest a decline, the difficulties in collecting accurate data means that
what is available can be unrepresentative of what is actually happening on these sites.
2.8 The biggest change has been to the number of households living on
encampments, which had decreased by 34% from July 2007 (407 households) to July
2008 (269 households). This accounted for 36% of all Gypsy/Traveller households.
The July 2008 count has shown a decrease in unauthorised encampments, which has
not occurred in the July Count since 2004.
2.9 The changing trend in the use of different types of site among the summer
population in Scotland as a whole is illustrated in Figure 2.2. Table 2.1 that follows
shows the trend by local authority area.
6
Figure 2.2: Summer Population of Gypsies/Travellers July 2001 to July 2008
900
Number of Households
800
700
600
48%
26%
500
400
31%
33%
21%
300
41%
45%
33%
31%
21%
25%
18%
19%
18%
200
100
36%
22%
42%
46%
46%
44%
41%
37%
34%
42%
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
0
Year
Council/RSL
Private
7
Encampments
Table 2.1: Gypsies/Travellers Households by Local Authority Area and Type of Site July
2005 – July 2008
July 2005
Local Authority
A
B
Aberdeen
11
Aberdeenshire
20
Angus
July 2006
C
D
0
7
0
10
11
16
Argyll & Bute
21
0
Clackmannanshire
9
0
0
Dumfries & Galloway
8
16
16
Dundee
13
0
0
East Ayrshire
0
1
East Dunbartonshire
4
0
East Renfrewshire
0
4
0
East/ Midlothian
11
0
10
Edinburgh
12
0
10
Eilean Siar
0
0
0
Falkirk
9
1
Fife
30
21
July 2007
A
B
C
D
18
8
8
28
30
19
0
7
15
42
12
16
2
23
21
9
40
13
5
0
July 2008
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
44
9
0
52
61
26
18
6
16
40
11
7
15
33
20
12
12
0
28
16
0
5
44
21
5
0
5
0
12
33
23
0
8
10
31
19
0
0
19
4
0
0
4
7
0
15
7
2
24
20
0
0
7
10
0
0
10
16
36
13
6
16
16
0
13
29
12
0
35
0
12
13
0
8
6
0
0
13
13
0
21
1
6
7
0
2
9
4
2
0
0
2
11
5
0
0
5
5
0
0
5
4
0
10
0
21
11
0
6
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
17
3
0
21
24
12
0
5
17
22
10
0
0
0
0
0
10
19
0
21
40
10
0
4
14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
12
0
0
8
20
11
5
16
32
16
9
19
44
32
83
15
20
41
76
26
31
61
118
38
32
25
95
Glasgow
2
0
0
2
2
0
0
2
1
0
2
3
0
0
0
0
Highland
30
12
38
80
22
14
0
36
28
11
18
57
31
0
39
70
Inverclyde
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
5
0
0
3
3
0
0
0
0
Moray
0
0
30
30
0
0
43
43
0
0
35
35
0
0
21
21
North Ayrshire
16
0
28
44
11
0
18
29
14
0
40
54
9
0
0
9
North Lanarkshire
0
0
3
3
0
0
5
5
0
0
17
17
0
0
38
38
Orkney
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Perth & Kinross
16
0
20
36
18
0
10
28
8
5
9
22
20
25
10
55
Renfrewshire
0
0
4
4
0
0
22
22
0
0
6
6
0
0
7
7
Scottish Borders
3
15
0
18
8
15
0
23
1
10
0
11
8
0
1
9
Shetland
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
South Ayrshire
8
0
6
14
7
3
6
16
9
0
29
38
7
0
19
26
South Lanarkshire
24
43
6
73
23
44
7
74
23
86
0
109
30
69
0
99
Stirling
11
0
38
49
4
0
0
4
7
0
0
7
7
0
2
9
West Dunbartonshire
18
0
0
18
20
0
0
20
19
0
5
24
23
0
0
23
West Lothian
2
0
5
7
6
0
79
85
7
0
21
28
6
0
14
20
Scotland
289
129
285
703
266
137
325
728
286
155
407
848
313
162
269
744
% of Total
41
18
41
100
37
19
45
100
34
18
48
100
42
22
36
100
Estimated Population
867
387
855
2,109
878
452
1073
2,402
952
516
1355
2,823
1,033
535
888
2,455
EXPLANATORY NOTE
A Households on Council/RSL Sites
C Estimated households on Unauthorised Encampments
B Estimated households on Private Sites
D Total estimated number of households
Note that the estimate population is calculated by multiplying the number of households by the average size of households.
Actual numbers for the population on Council/RSL Sites is collected, and can be see at 3.15.
8
As with previous years, the largest population of Gypsies/Travellers is to be
found in South Lanarkshire, followed by Fife and then Highland, reporting 99, 95 and
70 households respectively. These 3 areas account for 35% of all Gypsies/Travellers
households living on sites and encampments in Scotland as of July 2008.
2.10
As can be seen in Table 2.2 below, there has been a net decrease of 12% in the
number of Gypsies/Travellers households since the Summer (July) Count of last year.
This has been reflected in 4 out of the 5 regions, with the exception of Tayside, Fife
and Central which increased by 11%. The biggest decrease occurred in Ayrshire,
Dumfries and Galloway, and in Lothian and Borders, by 40% and 42% respectively.
2.11
Nevertheless, in the long term this represents an increase in all regions except for
Lothian and Borders. Overall the population has increased by 17% since 2001, the
biggest being in Highlands, Islands and Grampian which has increased by 83% since
2001, while West Central Scotland shows the smallest change across the time period.
2.12
The level of annual change in the number of Gypsies/Travellers households by
region is shown in Table 2.2 along with the longer term trend since 2001.
2.13
Table 2.2: Change in Summer (July) Households by Region
Region
Highlands, Islands and Grampian
Tayside, Fife and Central
Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway
Lothian and Borders
West Central Scotland
SCOTLAND
Number of
Households
2007
2008
193
168
219
244
135
81
103
60
198
191
848
744
Change Change
20072001 2008
2008
-13%
83%
11%
27%
-40%
3%
-42%
-28%
-4%
1%
-12%
17%
Looking at the distribution of the July 2008 Gypsy/Traveller population
compared to the Scottish population as a whole, the Highland, Islands and Grampian,
Tayside, Fife and Central, Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway all account for a higher
proportion of the Gypsies/Travellers population than these areas do for the wider
Scottish population. In contrast, Lothian and Borders and West Central Scotland,
where the majority of the wider Scottish population is located, continue to account for
a lower proportion. A comparison is shown in Figure 2.3.
2.14
9
Figure 2.3: Distribution of All Households and Gypsies/Travellers Households
July 2008
100%
90%
26%
36%
80%
70%
60%
50%
8%
11%
18%
10%
40%
30%
33%
20%
20%
16%
23%
Scotland's Population
Gypsies/ Travellers Population
10%
0%
Highlands, Islands, Grampian
Tayside, Fife, Central
Lothians and Borders
West Central Scotland
Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway
2.15 Six local authorities had no Gypsies/Travellers on the day of the Count; East
Renfrewshire, Eilean Siar, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Orkney and Shetland. This is
consistent with previous years.
More detailed information on Gypsy/Traveller households across the local
authority areas can be found in Tables 9 and 10 of the Appendix.
2.16
10
3.
COUNCIL/RSL SITES
Background
From the late 1970s through to the early 2000s, many of Scotland’s local
authorities developed purpose-built serviced sites for Gypsies/Travellers with the aid
of grant assistance from the (then) Scottish Office. Management of these sites was
undertaken by local authorities.
3.1
A total of 37 facilities were developed over the period (34 year round and 3
seasonal) although 5 of these year round sites have since closed. Reasons for closure
varied, but vandalism, low occupancy or association with family feuding/fear of
intimidation among Gypsies/Travellers featured in the history of many of these sites.
3.2
Purpose-built Council/RSL sites are formally laid out with clearly demarcated
pitches intended for a single household. Very large households may be allocated two
adjacent pitches based on a single tenancy and there may also be instances of more
than one household occupying a single pitch and a single tenancy. Overall, such
instances tend to be rare. Pitches are usually designed to accommodate a large trailer
or static caravan with space for a lorry/van although in some instances a small touring
caravan is also permitted. Each pitch has its own amenity block containing facilities
such as showers/baths, toilets and domestic appliances, although the type and extent of
such facilities tends to vary by site.
3.3
Tenancies of year round sites are unrestricted in length and tenants are
permitted leaves of absence for up to 12 weeks for reasons such as work, travelling,
visiting relatives or holidaying, while retaining their tenancy.
3.4
The range of data available on Council/RSL sites and those who live on them
is largely based on site management records and the knowledge of those who manage
them. It is, as a result, much more extensive than in the case of private sites and
unauthorised encampments.
3.5
Provision
There are now 32 Council/RSL sites across Scotland; 29 are year round sites
and 3 are seasonal (open summer only). In 2006, Argyll and Bute Council transferred
ownership of its 3 year round sites to a RSL – Argyll Community Housing Association
(ACHA) - as part of a Council housing stock transfer. This means that overall, 29 sites
are now owned and managed by Councils and 3 by a RSL. A total of 24 local
authorities have sites (including shared provision), and 8 do not.
3.6
East and Midlothian councils jointly operate a site based in Dalkeith. The
Site Manager is employed by East Lothian Council and monitors encampment activity
in the two areas.
3.7
11
Table 1 of the appendix demonstrates that of these 32 sites, 8 sites are
currently fully tenanted. An additional 8 sites are running at operational capacity,
which means that all pitches available for let have been let. This means that 16
Council/RSL sites in Scotland had no pitches available for let at the time of the
Summer (July) 2008 Count, two more than July 2007.
3.8
3.9
Table 1 also shows that the total capacity of pitches has decreased by 1 pitch,
from 500 to 499 since the January 2008 Count. There has been a decrease of 5 pitches
in Highland (Kentallen) due to safety concerns over falling rocks. However, there has
been an increase of 4 pitches in North Lanarkshire. North Lanarkshire do not have any
facilities held on this site, but bring them on for any Gypsy/Traveller household
wishing to use it. The removal of the facilities has meant there are no formal pitches,
which has made more space potentially available.
Of the 499 pitches, (see Table 1 Appendix), the occupancy pattern was as
3.10
follows:

350 pitches (70%) were let – a similar level to July 2007 (68% let)

299 (60%) were let and occupied – again, a similar level to last year (57%), a
further 51 pitches (10%) were let but with tenants on permitted leaves of
absence – almost the same as last year (11%)

109 pitches (22%) were available for let but untenanted. This is almost the
same as last year (21%)

40 pitches (8%) were not available for let due to site refurbishment or because
pitches were being used for other purposes, notably community facilities often
provided in portakabins. This is slightly less than last year, when 11% of
pitches were unavailable.
At local authority and site level these patterns can vary considerably, as can
be seen when examining Table 1 of the Appendix. The seasonal site in Aberdeenshire
and the year round facilities in Angus, Fife (2 out of the 3 sites), Perth and Kinross,
and South Ayrshire were at full capacity. Angus and South Ayrshire were also at full
operational capacity in July 2007. The site in West Dunbartonshire and the
Springbank site in South Lanarkshire had all of their pitches let and occupied. The
sites in Dundee, Falkirk, Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire (Swinhill) also had
over 80% of their pitches let. One site each in Argyll and Bute, and Fife, and 3 of 4
sites in Highland also had over 80% of their pitches let.
3.11
The lowest levels of occupancy were found in the empty sites of Glasgow and
North Lanarkshire. The Barlockhart site in Dumfries and Galloway (29%), East
Dunbartonshire (33%) and West Lothian (29%) all had low levels of occupancy.
3.12
A detailed breakdown of pitch provision and occupancy on Council/RSL sites
is shown by local authority area in Table 3.1 and by site in Table 1 of the Appendix.
3.13
12
Table 3.1: Pitch Provision and Occupancy by Local Authority Area July 2008
Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries and Galloway
Dundee City
East/ Midlothian
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Edinburgh, City of
Eilean Siar
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow City
Highland
Inverclyde
Moray
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Orkney
Perth and Kinross
Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
Shetland
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
Total
Number Number
of sites
of
Pitches
1
1
1
3
1
2
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
3
1
4
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
2
1
1
1
32
21
20
18
32
16
32
20
20
0
15
0
20
0
15
50
10
49
0
0
16
20
0
20
0
10
0
8
28
18
20
21
499
% Let
52%
100%
100%
72%
75%
44%
85%
60%
0%
33%
0%
55%
0%
87%
92%
0%
80%
0%
0%
75%
0%
0%
100%
0%
80%
0%
100%
96%
44%
100%
29%
70%
Note: East Lothian and Midlothian submitted a joint return for the purposes of the Count.
13
%
% Not
Available Available
for let
for Let
24%
0%
0%
22%
0%
50%
5%
40%
0%
67%
0%
45%
0%
0%
0%
90%
2%
0%
0%
25%
100%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
56%
0%
43%
22%
24%
0%
0%
6%
25%
6%
10%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
13%
8%
10%
18%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
20%
0%
0%
4%
0%
0%
29%
8%
Population
In July 2008 there were 313 households living on Council/RSL sites. This
represented 42% of all Gypsies/Travellers households in 2008, a 9% increase from
2007 to 2008. As Figure 3.1 shows, the population on such sites since 2001 has
remained relatively stable. Since 2006 it has increased steadily.
3.14
Figure 3.1: Number of Households on Council/RSL Sites (Summer)
July 2001 to July 2008
Number of Households
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Year
The 313 households represent a total population of 1,021 people1, as shown in
Table 5 of the Appendix. The average household size was 3.3 persons, the same as in
July 2007. This compares to only 2.2 in the wider Scottish population. However, on
individual sites this ranged from 1.6 to 9.8 per household. The average of 3.3 has been
applied to the number of caravans on private sites and unauthorised encampments as a
working assumption, to estimate the total population of Gypsies/Travellers living on
sites in Scotland.
3.15
The Scottish Borders were unable to return data on age and gender for the 40
people on their site at the time of the Count. In order to compare these figures to that
of the overall Scottish population, the Scottish Borders population has not been
included in the age and gender breakdown shown in Table 3.2 (therefore the
population base for this analysis is 981 rather than 1,021). The following commentary
is based on these figures; however Table 5 of the Appendix looks at the age
breakdown of all official sites and includes the total population from the Scottish
Borders.
3.16
Table 3.2 demonstrates that the Gypsy/Traveller population is younger than
the general Scottish population, with 44% aged 0-19 years old, compared to 23% of
the wider population. As in previous years the proportion of people under 5 years old
3.17
1
This is the actual number of individuals counted as present on Council/RSL sites on the day of the
Count, as opposed to the estimate calculated for the purposes of Table 2.1.
14
was much higher than in the wider population, as was the case with 5 to 11 year olds.
These differences were less pronounced among 12 to 15 year olds and 16 to 19 year
olds, but still higher in Gypsies/Travellers in both cases.
Age structure varies at the site level. The highest number of children under
12 can be found in Falkirk (23 children), Aberdeen (22 children), and Aberdeenshire
and Swinhill in South Lanarkshire (20 children on both of these sites). The highest
numbers of individuals aged 60 years or over on a site can be found in Angus (9
individuals) and Swinhill in South Lanarkshire (8 individuals). Table 5 of the
Appendix demonstrates the total number of people on each local authority site and
gives the age structure profile by percentage.
3.18
Table 3.2 compares the main demographic characteristics among
Council/RSL site based Gypsies/Travellers with the wider Scottish population.
3.19
Table 3.2: Demographic Comparison Gypsies/Travellers living on Council/RSL
Sites and Scotland as a whole
Gypsies/Travellers
GENDER
Male
Female
AGE STRUCTURE
0-4 years
5-11 years
12-15 years
16-19 years
20-59 years
Over 60 years
POPULATION BASE
Number
%
Scotland
%
474
507
48%
52%
48%
52%
137
152
83
69
472
68
14%
15%
8%
7%
48%
7%
981
5%
8%
5%
5%
55%
22%
5,144,200
3.3
2.2
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE
Note: The population base does not include 40 individuals residing at Scottish Borders at the time of
the Count as information about their age and gender could not be provided. Table 5 of the Appendix
includes Scottish Borders in the analysis and is based on a population base of 1,021.
Change, Movement and Demand
The level of tenancy change on Council/RSL sites currently runs at 15%, the
same as in July 2007. More households (15%) were absent from their pitches at the
time of the Count than in July 2007 (11%). In the 6 months leading up to and
including the July 2008 Count, 35% of households had gone away from the site in the
last 6 months, compared to 49%, in the July 2007 count. This can be seen in Table 3
3.20
15
of the Appendix. One potential reason for this difference would appear to be that there
are fewer ongoing refurbishments on Council/RSL sites than in previous years.
The Count collects numbers of tenants who have been away for permitted
periods over the last 6 months (in Table 3 of the Appendix). Fife recorded the most
permitted leaves of absence; 70% of tenants had been away for permitted periods over
the previous 6 months. Also reporting high proportions of tenants who had been away
for permitted periods was Highland (59% of tenants), Aberdeen and Edinburgh (both
55% of tenants) and Falkirk (54% of tenants). The tenants at the West Dunbartonshire
and Perth and Kinross sites, and Springbank in South Lanarkshire were the most
settled, with 100% of pitches let and no-one choosing to take a permitted leave of
absence.
3.21
Table 3.3 demonstrates that a large percentage of Gypsies/Travellers (42%)
have been resident for under one year, a decrease compared to the figure recorded last
year (35%). At 32%, there has been little change in the proportion of tenancies which
have existed for between 1 and 5 years since July 2007 (32%) although there has been
a drop in the number of Gypsies/Travellers resident for longer than 5 years (26%) from
July 2007 (32%). Table 2 of the Appendix provides a further breakdown of the length
of tenancy profile by local authority area.
3.22
Using these figures it is possible to build a picture of the sites with the ‘most
settled’ populations. The sites at Angus and South Ayrshire had at least 75% of their
tenants who have been there for 5 years and over. Other settled sites with over 50% of
tenants staying for more than 5 years include Perth and Kinross, and West
Dunbartonshire.
3.23
As there has been no Site Manager in place in West Lothian, they have been
unable to provide a full picture of tenancy change over the last 6 months. The figures
used in Table 3.3 have only been compiled while the new Site Manager has been in
place.
3.24
16
Table 3.3: Length of Tenancy Profile by Local Authority Area July 2008
Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee City
East/ Midlothian
East Dunbartonshire
Edinburgh, City of
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow City
Highland
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Perth and Kinross
Scottish Borders
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
Total
Tenancies
11
20
18
23
12
14
17
12
5
11
13
46
0
39
12
0
20
8
8
27
8
20
6
350
Under 1
year
55%
100%
11%
35%
58%
29%
71%
50%
0%
9%
46%
28%
0
46%
67%
0
20%
100%
0%
22%
100%
20%
100%
42%
1 year to
5 years
45%
0%
6%
35%
42%
64%
18%
33%
80%
45%
46%
43%
0
49%
17%
0
25%
0%
25%
37%
0%
15%
0%
32%
5 years
and above
0%
0%
83%
30%
0%
7%
12%
17%
20%
45%
8%
28%
0
5%
17%
0
55%
0%
75%
41%
0%
65%
0%
26%
Note: East Lothian and Midlothian Councils submitted a joint return for the purposes of the Count
Table 4 of the appendix shows that at the time of the Count there were 120
applicants on waiting lists for Council/RSL sites, representing 26% of current
provision. This is very similar to the numbers reported on waiting lists in July 2007
(reported to be 127 applicants). As some households may be registered on more than
one list there will be a degree of overlap. Most popular are South Lanarkshire (32
applicants), and Angus and Fife (15 applicants on each waiting list).
3.25
Table 4 also shows that there were 27 applicants representing 6% of pitch
provision who have been turned away in July 2008, fewer than in the previous year (96
applicants, 21% of pitch provision). Similar to the site waiting lists, there may be a
possible overlap as it is possible households could be turned away from more than one
site; 5 applicants were turned away from the site in Angus, and 4 applicants were
turned away from the Balmuir Wood site in Dundee, the Longman site in Highland
and the Swinhill site in South Lanarkshire.
3.26
17
4.
PRIVATE SITES
Background
Privately owned sites are used by Gypsies/Travellers who either do not want
to access Council/RSL sites, or are unable to do so. They include year round sites and
those used only on a seasonal basis.
4.1
Year round sites are often established by Gypsies/Travellers themselves and
usually cater for specific families or extended families. This tends to mean they
accommodate groups of people from largely the same ethnicity (for example,
Romanies, Scottish Travellers etc).
4.2
Private seasonal sites can either be specifically for Gypsies/Travellers (often
provided and/or managed by Gypsies/Travellers) or commercial holiday/touring
stopover sites known to accept Gypsies/Travellers.
4.3
Owners of private sites are under no obligation to take part in the Twice
Yearly Count. Owners of holiday/touring sites can be reluctant to disclose that they
accept Gypsies/Travellers, while sites established by Gypsies/Travellers themselves
tend to value their privacy. Accurate data on the number of households living on
private sites and details of the sites themselves can therefore be difficult to obtain.
The information gathered for the Count is based on the best local intelligence held
among local authority officers working most closely with Gypsies/Travellers.
4.4
In the case of private sites, estimates of the number of households for Count
purposes are based on the assumption that one caravan is equivalent to one household.
While experience from Council/RSL sites suggests this will not be strictly true in all
cases, it will be in the vast majority. It is therefore a useful general rule to apply when
estimating the total Gypsy/Traveller population.
4.5
Population and Provision
The total population domiciled on private sites in 2008 has increased to 162
households, an increase of 7 households compared to the July 2007 Count. This
represents 22% of all the households recorded in the Count. This is the highest
number of Gypsies/Travellers households on such sites since July 2001, when 198
households were recorded. Figure 4.1 shows the trend since 2001.
4.6
Considering individual local authorities, the biggest increases have been seen
in Perth and Kinross (an increase of 20 households), and Aberdeen (an increase of 7
households). Areas with long-established Gypsy/Traveller-run sites, such as Fife (3%
increase) seem to have fairly stable populations.
4.7
18
Figure 4.1: Number of Households on Private Sites (Summer)
July 2001 to July 2008
Number of Households
250
200
150
100
50
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Year
Two sites in use at the time of the July 2007 Count were not reported as
being in use in this Count. While one of the two sites in Highland is still noted as
available to Gypsies/Travellers in 2008, the status of a private site at Scottish Borders
is unknown.
4.8
The number of Gypsies/Travellers living on private sites decreased by a fifth
in South Lanarkshire, from 86 households recorded in the July 2007 Count to 69
households in the July 2008 Count. South Lanarkshire is home to a historically large
private site population, and in this Count is reported as having the largest number of
Gypsies/Travellers households on a private site. Fife was reported to have the second
largest population of Gypsies/Travellers living on long stay private sites, reporting 32
households.
4.9
As Table 4.1 shows, the majority of private pitches (81%) were long stay, 15
pitches more than recorded in the July 2007 Count.
4.10
19
Table 4.1: Households Living on Private Sites by Local Authority Area July
2008
Local Authority
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Dumfries & Galloway
East Ayrshire
Falkirk
Fife
Highland
Moray
Perth and Kinross
South Lanarkshire
SCOTLAND
Short Stay
0
12
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
16
30
Long Stay
7
0
6
0
9
32
0
0
25
53
132
Total
7
12
6
2
9
32
0
0
25
69
162
Sites
In total, 21 privates sites were identified, 17 of which were occupied at the
time of the Count. The table below shows all of the 21 sites identified in the July
2008 Count and a more detailed analysis can be found in Table 6 of the Appendix.
4.11
There were 2 empty sites identified. These were identified in Highland, and
Dumfries and Galloway, both of which were summer only facilities. An additional
two private sites in Moray, shown in Table 4.2, had no records available and have
been assumed to have been empty in Table 4.1, this approach avoids double counting.
4.12
Table 4.2: Private Sites identified at July 2008
Local Authority
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Dumfries & Galloway
East Ayrshire
Falkirk
Fife
Highland
Moray
Perth and Kinross
South Lanarkshire
SCOTLAND
All year
1
0
1
1
3
2
0
2
3
3
16
20
Number of Sites
Seasonal
Summer
Winter
Only
Only
0
0
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
Total
1
2
3
1
3
2
1
2
3
3
21
There were 11 sites that catered specifically for Gypsies/Travellers in July
2008, the rest being commercial campsites that permitted Gypsies/Travellers to use
their facilities. 14 of these sites (67%) were in continuous use, compared to 13 sites at
the time of the July 2007 Count. Only 5 out of the 32 local authorities reported the
existence of a private site specifically for Gypsies/Travellers.
4.13
21
5.
UNAUTHORISED ENCAMPMENTS
Background
Unauthorised encampments are set up on a typically short-term basis by
Gypsies/Travellers when travelling through or visiting an area. They can also arise
when families are having difficulty finding somewhere to settle, for example, on a
Council/RSL or private site. In many areas, such encampments are the only option
available (where no available sites/pitches exist or where they are refused entry to
private/holiday sites); for other Gypsies/Travellers they are the only option they will
consider as part of their way of life.
5.1
Gypsies/Travellers based in Scotland and seasonal incomers from England,
Ireland and Wales traditionally move around during the summer months. While
unauthorised encampments tend to spring up more frequently in summer than in
winter, there are areas of Scotland where unauthorised encampments are reported
throughout the winter.
5.2
Locations used include wasteland, industrial sites, open space areas, lay-bys,
car parks and more secluded spots away from settled populations such as loch shores,
river banks, remote glens and grazing pastures. Some of these are long-established
‘stopping places’ used by Gypsies/Travellers for decades and traditionally recognised
as such, although locations of this type seem to be increasingly a thing of the past.
Families often follow an annual pattern of favoured locations, stopping periodically
before moving on of their own accord or as a result of a court order being raised by the
landowner.
5.3
As in the case of private sites, accurate data on unauthorised encampments is
difficult to obtain and varies from authority to authority. For the purposes of the
count, household estimates are based on a count of caravans on known sites within an
area. Again, estimates of the number of households are based on the working
assumption that one caravan is the equivalent of one household.
5.4
Encampments can be difficult to find and are not always known to the local
authority officers, as Gypsies/Travellers often set up encampments in remote locations.
Other agencies such as the Police are a valuable source of information on encampment
activity.
5.5
This is the second Count in which councils were asked to conduct a count of
the total number of vans sighted within the area in the six months leading up to the day
of the Count. These changes were introduced because, increasingly in the case of
Council/RSL and private sites, the ‘snapshot’ nature of the Count meant it might not
accurately represent the typical level of activity in a local area. It was understood that
not all councils keep regular records on encampment activity, but it is hoped that by
including it in the Counts, authorities will subsequently be encouraged to take up the
practice.
5.6
22
Population and Encampment Activity
There were 48 sites occupied by Gypsies/Travellers on the day of the Count.
As with previous Counts, longer stays of more than a week were most common; 63%
of encampments had been occupied for more than a week. Of these locations, 17 were
occupied for a one or two week period, and 13 were occupied for a longer period. In
July 2007, 75% of encampments were occupied for more than a week.
5.7
In July 2008 there was an estimated 269 households living in unauthorised
encampments, a decrease of 34% from the July 2007 Count (407 households) to the
July 2008 Count. However, this represents an overall increase of 60% from the July
2001 Count (168 households). The July 2008 Count has nevertheless seen the lowest
number of encampments since the July 2005 Count.
5.8
From 2001 through to 2004 the number of encampments was relatively stable,
followed by a significant increase between 2004 and 2007, which was accounted for
by the rise in the overall number of Gypsy/Traveller households in Scotland. The July
2008 Count has seen the first significant decrease in the number of encampments since
2004, and accordingly, a drop in the overall number of Gypsy/Traveller households.
5.9
The year on year trend in the number of households occupying
unauthorised encampments from 2001 to the present count is shown in Figure 5.1.
5.10
Number of Households
Figure 5.1: Number of Households on Unauthorised Encampments (Summer)
July 2001 to July 2008
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Year
23
2006
2007
2008
On the day of the Count, 19 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities reported
encampments, and 26 reported periodic experience of encampments in their area
during the last 6 months. A total of 188 locations were identified as being used by
Gypsies/Travellers, though not all of these places were reported as being in use over
the last 6 months. The number of locations reported has decreased by 11% from the
212 locations reported in the July 2007 Count. However, July 2007 saw significant
increases compared to previous years. The number of locations reported had increased
by 37% from 2006, and 49% from 2005.
5.11
No unauthorised encampment locations were recorded in Argyll and Bute,
East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, Eilean Siar and Shetland.
This is similar to previous Counts, where these areas have reported few or no
unauthorised encampments.
5.12
Tracing patterns of travel among groups of Gypsies/Travellers is difficult to
do with any certainty, as this has not always been recorded by local authorities and
Gypsies/Travellers can themselves be unspecific on where they have come from. The
majority of Gypsies/Travellers (62%) had travelled from within Scotland to the
location they occupied on the day of the count, although it is not possible to say
whether this is where they started travelling from at the beginning of the season. Half
of the encampments reported in South West Scotland came from the Republic of
Ireland or Northern Ireland.
5.13
For the first time, local authorities were asked to establish whether
Gypsies/Travellers households occupying an encampment had moved on from another
location within the same local authority. Ten locations were occupied by families who
had moved from within the local area, the majority in the Highlands, Islands and
Grampian region.
5.14
Table 5.1 demonstrates the average encampment size in Scotland for both
encampments reported between the January 2008 and July 2008 Counts, and from July
2007 to July 2008 Counts, was 5.1 caravans. Averages varied at the local authority
level, the largest average size of encampments over the last six months being noted in
the Scottish Borders (16.3 caravans) followed by Clackmannanshire (13.7 caravans).
Moray had the smallest encampments, with an average size of 1.8 caravans.
5.15
North Lanarkshire recorded the average largest encampment over the course
of the year from July 2007, reporting an average encampment size of 13.5 caravans,
with Moray again recording the smallest average (2.1 caravans). There was no data
available for July 2007 to January 2008 for West Lothian (due to a period where no
permanent Site Manager was on site). Other local authorities with a large average
encampment size included Clackmannanshire (11.3 caravans) and East and Midlothian
(8.3 caravans).
5.16
The size distribution of encampments is illustrated in Table 5.1. Further
information on the characteristics of unauthorised encampments occupied on the day
of the Count can be found in Table 7 of the Appendix.
5.17
24
Number of Encampments
Figure 5.2: Size of Unauthorised Encampments July 2008
1 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 15
16 to 20
21 to 25
26 to 30
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Number of Households
As methods for collecting encampment data can vary between local
authorities the level of detail available on encampments is not standard. Some
encampments can go unrecorded because the encampment is not reported or noticed.
There are also cases, as happened in one Local Authority during this Count, where
officers were not able to confirm a reported incident as actually involving
Gypsies/Travellers because the caravans had left by the time they arrived.
5.18
Table 5.1 also demonstrates that local authorities were visited, on average,
11.3 times over the past six months. The frequency of visits ranged from 1 in Orkney
to 53 visits in Highland. As well as Highland, the most visited local authorities where
Aberdeen City (41 visits), Moray (38 visits), and North Ayrshire and Fife (both
reporting 31 visits).
5.19
Caution should be applied when examining these numbers in detail. As it is
possible for a single Gypsy/Traveller group or household to visit more than one local
authority in the course of 6 months, or even a day, the same household can easily be
recorded several times. As the travel patterns noted above show, most encampments
were set up by Gypsies/Travellers moving within Scotland, so double counting is
almost inevitable.
5.20
The number of visits reported by local authorities stays fairly consistent over
the course of a year. Table 5.1 shows that the Local Authorities receiving the highest
number of visits are Highland (89 visits), Moray (69 visits), Aberdeen City (58 visits),
Fife (56 visits) and North Ayrshire (52 visits). Moray was the only local authority to
receive frequent visits that does not have an official site (due to closure).
5.21
More information on the usage of encampment locations over the last six
months can be found in Table 8 of the Appendix.
5.22
25
Table 5.1: Visits to Known Encampments Locations
LA
Aberdeen City
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee City
East/ Midlothian
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Eilean Siar
Edinburgh, City of
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow City
Highland
Inverclyde
Moray
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Orkney
Perth And Kinross
Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
Shetland
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
January 2008 to July
2008
Average
Number of
number of
visits
caravans
41
2.7
6
5.5
17
5.7
0
0.0
3
13.7
22
2.2
6
7.0
8
6.8
7
3.3
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0.0
6
3.5
13
7.2
31
10.3
3
5.0
53
3.5
3
6.0
38
1.8
31
6.8
6
11.0
1
3.0
10
5.4
13
2.6
3
16.3
0
0.0
16
6.6
0
0.0
5
6.2
4
4.3
15
7.0
361
5.1
July 2007 to July 2008
Number of
visits
58
11
21
0
7
33
16
30
8
0
0
0
12
16
56
3
89
6
69
52
15
2
26
18
3
0
31
4
17
17
15
635
Average
number of
caravans
4.8
6.2
5.7
0.0
11.3
3.2
2.6
8.3
3.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
4.8
7.9
8.2
0.0
2.7
5.7
2.1
6.4
13.5
3.0
3.6
3.2
0.0
0.0
5.3
2.3
4.6
6.0
7.0
5.1
Note: Only known visits to West Lothian Council have been included in the table, although information could only
be supplied from the period where the Site Manager post was filled.
26
Table 7 in the appendix shows that the Highlands recorded the largest number
of households in encampments (39 caravans) on the day of the Count, closely followed
by North Lanarkshire (38 caravans). High numbers of Gypsy/Traveller households
were also recorded in Moray (21 caravans), Falkirk (19 caravans) and South Ayrshire
(19 caravans). In July 2007 the authorities with the highest numbers were Fife (61
caravans) and Aberdeen (52 caravans).
5.23
Table 5.2 provides a detailed breakdown by local authority area of the
estimated number of caravans occupying an unauthorised encampment recorded at
July 2008, as well as on 3 previous counts.
5.24
27
Table 5.2: Number of Households on Unauthorised Encampments (Summer)
July 2005 to July 2008
Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee City
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East/ Midlothian
East Renfrewshire
Edinburgh City
Eilean Siar
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow
Highland
Inverclyde
Moray
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Orkney
Perth & Kinross
Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
Shetland
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
2005
7
10
15
2
0
16
0
5
0
10
0
10
0
0
32
0
38
0
30
28
3
0
20
4
0
0
6
6
38
0
5
285
2006
28
7
0
12
0
2
13
13
0
6
0
0
0
8
41
0
0
5
43
18
5
0
10
22
?
0
6
7
0
0
79
325
2007
52
16
5
8
0
16
0
6
0
21
0
21
0
16
61
2
18
3
35
40
17
0
9
6
0
0
29
0
0
5
21
407
2008
15
12
5
0
0
16
8
9
0
5
0
4
0
19
25
0
39
0
21
0
38
0
10
7
1
0
19
0
2
0
14
269
Note: East Lothian and Midlothian Councils submit a joint return for the purposes of the
Count. The encampment occupied at the time of the July 2008 Count were in Midlothian.
Complete information could not be provided for the Scottish Borders in the July 2006 count,
and this has been recorded as unknown.
28
6.
APPENDIX
INDEX OF TABLES
Table 1:
Table 2:
Table 3:
Table 4:
Table 5:
Table 6:
Table 7:
Table 8:
Table 9:
Table 10:
Council/RSL Sites: Pitch Occupancy by Site July 2008
Council/RSL Sites: Length of Tenancy Profile by Local Authority
Area July 2008
Council/RSL Sites: Movement Away From Sites by Local Authority
Area July 2008
Council/RSL Sites Tenancy Change and Demand by Local Authority
Area July 2008
Council/RSL – Age Structure Profile by Site July 2008
Private Sites – Availability and Usage July 2008
Characteristics of Unauthorised Encampments Occupied July 2008
Use of Unauthorised Encampments in Last 6 months
Gypsies/Travellers Households by Local Authority Area and Type of
Site July 2008
Gypsies/Travellers Households by Local Authority Area and Type of
Site
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
38
39
40
Table 1: Council/RSL Sites: Pitch Occupancy by Site July 2008
Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Argyll & Bute
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries &
Galloway
Dumfries &
Galloway
Dundee City
East/ Midlothian
East Dunbartonshire
Edinburgh, City of
Falkirk
Fife
Fife
Fife
Glasgow City
Highland
Highland
Highland
Highland
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Perth and Kinross
Scottish Borders
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
Total
Number
of Pitches
Total
Let
Let and
Occupied
Clinterty, Kinellar
Greenbanks, Banff
St Christopher's,
Montrose
Duncholgan,
Lochgiliphead
Ledaig, Benderloch
Torlochan, Dunoon
Westhaugh near Alva
21
20
52%
100%
24%
90%
Let and
tenant
temporarily
absent
29%
10%
18
100%
89%
14
86%
8
10
16
Barlockhart, Glenluce
Available
for let
Not
available
24%
0%
24%
0%
11%
0%
0%
64%
21%
7%
7%
75%
50%
75%
75%
20%
75%
0%
30%
0%
25%
40%
0%
0%
10%
25%
14
29%
29%
0%
71%
0%
Thistlegrove, Collin
18
56%
50%
6%
33%
11%
Balmuir Wood, Tealing
Old Dalkeith Colliery
Redhills, Lennoxtown
North Cairntow,
Duddingston
Redding, Falkirk
Heatherywood,
Kirkcaldy
Tarvit Mill, Cupar
Thorntonwood, Kelty
Rodney Street,
Maryhill
Aonach Mhor, Spean
Bridge
Kentallen, Fort
William
Longman, Inverness
Newtonmore,
Inverness
Redburn, Irvine
Forrest Street, Airdrie
Double Dykes, Perth
Tweedsite, Innerleithen
Houdston, Girvan
Springbank, East
Kilbride
Swinhill, Larkhall
Bridgend, Craigforth
Dennystoun Forge,
Dumbarton
Sibbalds Brae,
Bathgate
20
20
15
85%
60%
33%
65%
45%
33%
20%
15%
0%
5%
40%
67%
10%
0%
0%
20
55%
50%
5%
45%
0%
15
87%
87%
0%
0%
13%
18
100%
56%
44%
0%
0%
20
12
80%
100%
65%
92%
15%
8%
0%
0%
20%
0%
10
0%
0%
0%
90%
10%
15
93%
80%
13%
0%
7%
7
43%
43%
0%
0%
57%
20
80%
65%
15%
0%
20%
7
86%
29%
57%
14%
0%
16
20
20
10
8
75%
0%
100%
80%
100%
63%
0%
100%
80%
88%
13%
0%
0%
0%
13%
25%
100%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
20%
0%
6
100%
100%
0%
0%
0%
22
18
95%
44%
86%
44%
9%
0%
0%
56%
5%
0%
20
100%
100%
0%
0%
0%
21
29%
29%
0%
43%
29%
499
70%
60%
10%
22%
8%
Site
30
Table 2: Council/RSL Sites: Length of Tenancy Profile by Local Authority Area
July 2008
Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee City
East/ Midlothian
East Dunbartonshire
Edinburgh, City of
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow City
Highland
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Perth and Kinross
Scottish Borders
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
Total
0-3
3-6
6-12
Tenancies months months months
11
20
18
23
12
14
17
12
5
11
13
46
0
39
12
0
20
8
8
27
8
20
6
350
18%
100%
11%
17%
0%
7%
35%
17%
0%
0%
0%
4%
0
23%
42%
0
20%
100%
0%
7%
25%
0%
100%
21%
27%
0%
0%
17%
58%
7%
18%
33%
0%
0%
15%
2%
0
15%
8%
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
10%
0%
10%
9%
0%
0%
0%
0%
14%
18%
0%
0%
9%
31%
22%
0
8%
17%
0
0%
0%
0%
15%
75%
10%
0%
11%
31
1-2
years
2-5
years
5-10
years
18%
0%
0%
0%
17%
21%
12%
33%
80%
9%
15%
26%
0
28%
17%
0
0%
0%
13%
11%
0%
0%
0%
14%
27%
0%
6%
35%
25%
43%
6%
0%
0%
36%
31%
17%
0
21%
0%
0
25%
0%
13%
26%
0%
15%
0%
18%
0%
0%
0%
13%
0%
7%
6%
8%
20%
9%
8%
24%
0
5%
0%
0
25%
0%
75%
33%
0%
25%
0%
13%
Over
10
years
0%
0%
83%
17%
0%
0%
6%
8%
0%
36%
0%
4%
0
0%
17%
0
30%
0%
0%
7%
0%
40%
0%
13%
Table 3: Council/RSL Sites: Movement Away From Sites by Local Authority
Area July 2008
Local Authority
Let Pitches
Of the pitches
let, how many
tenants were
temporarily
absent
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee
East/ Midlothian
East Dunbartonshire
Edinburgh, City of
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow
Highland
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Perth and Kinross
Scottish Borders
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
11
20
18
23
12
14
17
12
5
11
13
46
0
39
12
0
20
8
8
27
8
20
6
350
55%
10%
11%
26%
0%
7%
24%
25%
0%
9%
0%
26%
0
23%
17%
0
0%
0%
13%
7%
0%
0%
0%
15%
32
How many
current tenants
have been away
for permitted
periods over
the last 6
months
55%
10%
22%
39%
42%
36%
24%
33%
0%
55%
54%
70%
0
59%
17%
0
0%
0%
13%
33%
25%
0%
0%
35%
Table 4: Council/RSL Sites Tenancy Change and Demand by Local Authority
Area July 2008
Local Authority
Usable
Pitches*
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee
East/ Midlothian
East Dunbartonshire
Edinburgh, City of
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow
Highland
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Perth and Kinross
Scottish Borders
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
16
20
18
30
12
30
18
20
15
20
13
46
9
40
16
20
20
8
8
27
18
20
15
459
Tenancy
Applicants on
Changes
waiting list
Number
%
Number
%
5
31%
0
0%
20
100%
7
35%
2
11%
15
83%
2
7%
2
7%
0
0%
1
8%
4
13%
14
47%
0
0%
1
6%
2
10%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
3
15%
0
0%
6
46%
3
7%
15
33%
0
0%
0
0%
13
33%
13
33%
4
25%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
2
10%
0
0%
8
100%
0
0%
0
0%
4
50%
2
7%
32
119%
0
0%
0
0%
2
10%
7
35%
0
0%
0
0%
69
15%
120
26%
Families turned
away
%
Number
0
0%
2
10%
5
28%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
4
22%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
1
8%
4
9%
0
0%
6
15%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
1
13%
0
0%
4
15%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
27
6%
* Please note 40 pitches of the 499 were not available for let due to site refurbishment
or due to use for other purposes.
33
Table 5: Council/RSL – Age Structure Profile by Site July 2008
Local Authority
Name
Total
Number
of
People
Under
5 years
5-11
years
12-15
years
16-19
years
20-59
years
Over
60
years
Aberdeen
Clinterty, Kinellar
50
16%
28%
8%
4%
38%
6%
Aberdeenshire
Greenbanks, Banff
72
14%
14%
6%
3%
58%
6%
Angus
49
4%
12%
0%
0%
65%
18%
14
7%
21%
0%
0%
57%
14%
Argyll & Bute
St Christopher's, Montrose
Duncholgan,
Lochgiliphead
Ledaig, Benderloch
18
11%
17%
11%
17%
44%
0%
Argyll & Bute
Torlochan, Dunoon
12
0%
17%
8%
8%
50%
17%
Clackmannanshire
Westhaugh near Alva
25
16%
8%
8%
8%
52%
8%
Dumfries & Galloway
Barlockhart, Glenluce
7
0%
0%
0%
14%
0%
86%
Dumfries & Galloway
Thistlegrove, Collin
29
10%
14%
3%
14%
48%
10%
Dundee
Balmuir Wood, Tealing
21
14%
10%
5%
0%
67%
5%
East/ Midlothian
Old Dalkeith Colliery
43
14%
14%
16%
9%
44%
2%
East Dunbartonshire
10
10%
40%
0%
0%
50%
0%
44
7%
32%
16%
5%
36%
5%
Falkirk
Redhills, Lennoxtown
North Cairntow,
Duddingston
Redding, Falkirk
57
21%
19%
4%
7%
47%
2%
Fife
Heatherywood, Kirkcaldy
43
33%
9%
7%
0%
47%
5%
Fife
Tarvit Mill, Cupar
35
11%
9%
11%
9%
51%
9%
Fife
Thorntonwood, Kelty
40
20%
15%
18%
3%
45%
0%
Glasgow
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
48
33%
2%
2%
2%
58%
2%
Highland
Rodney Street, Maryhill
Aonach Mhor, Spean
Bridge
Kentallen, Fort William
12
8%
33%
0%
8%
50%
0%
Highland
Longman, Inverness
39
21%
3%
15%
8%
54%
0%
Highland
Newtonmore, Inverness
6
0%
0%
0%
0%
67%
33%
North Ayrshire
Redburn, Irvine
22
14%
23%
18%
5%
32%
9%
North Lanarkshire
Forrest Street, Airdrie
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Perth and Kinross
Double Dykes, Perth
50
4%
22%
10%
14%
40%
10%
Scottish Borders
Tweedsite, Innerleithen
40
-
-
-
-
-
-
South Ayrshire
Houdston, Girvan
33
9%
18%
15%
12%
39%
6%
South Lanarkshire
Springbank, East Kilbride
15
7%
27%
20%
7%
33%
7%
South Lanarkshire
Swinhill, Larkhall
85
11%
13%
4%
15%
48%
9%
Stirling
Bridgend, Craigforth
Dennystoun Forge,
Dumbarton
Sibbalds Brae, Bathgate
15
13%
13%
7%
13%
53%
0%
57
7%
16%
12%
11%
44%
11%
30
23%
13%
10%
3%
50%
0%
1,021
13%
15%
8%
7%
46%
7%
Argyll & Bute
Edinburgh, City of
Highland
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
Scotland
Note: Scottish Borders were unable to provide an age and gender breakdown although were able to provide a total (40). We have
included this in the total number, however this means that 4% cannot be accounted for in the age breakdown. These percentages
will differ from those adjusted in the report.
34
Table 6: Private Sites – Availability and Usage July 2008
Local Authority
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Dumfries &
Galloway
East Ayrshire
Falkirk
Fife
Highland
Moray
Perth and Kinross
South Lanarkshire
SCOTLAND
Site
Site Type
a
a
b
a
b
c
a
a
b
c
a
b
a
a
b
a
b
c
a
b
c
21
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
Holiday
Holiday
Holiday
Holiday
Holiday
Holiday
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
Holiday
Holiday
Holiday
Holiday
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
Specifically for Gypsies/Travellers
35
Households
Short
Long
Stay
Stay
0
7
6
0
6
0
0
3
0
3
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
5
0
2
0
20
0
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
13
0
2
4
38
8
12
4
3
30
132
Use last 6
months
Continuous
Continuous
Continuous
Continuous
Occasional
Occasional
Occasional
Continuous
Continuous
Continuous
Continuous
Continuous
Occasional
Occasional
Occasional
Occasional
Continuous
Continuous
Continuous
Continuous
Continuous
Table 7: Characteristics of Unauthorised Encampments Occupied July 2008
At the time of the Count
Local Authority
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee
East/ Midlothian
East Ayrshire
Edinburgh, City of
Falkirk
Fife
Highland
Moray
Location
1
2
1
2
3
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
2
3
1
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
Number
of
Caravans
How Long Had
Caravans
Occupied Site?
3
12
3
4
5
5
2
6
8
8
5
2
3
4
4
16
3
5
20
7
2
3
3
8
2
2
1
3
8
5
11
4
1
One or two weeks
One or two weeks
A few days
One or two weeks
A few days
A longer period
A few days
A few days
A few days
A longer period
A few days
A longer period
A few days
One or two weeks
A few days
A few days
One or two weeks
A longer period
One or two weeks
One or two weeks
A few days
A few days
A few days
One or two weeks
A longer period
A longer period
A longer period
A few days
A few days
One or two weeks
One or two weeks
A longer period
A few days
36
Use last 6 months
Number Number
of
of
Times Caravans
23
1
1
1
1
3
2
5
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
6
20
3
1
2
1
1
4
4
4
1
3
1
25
9
1
3
11
12
3
4
5
20
3
7
9
8
5
2
6
8
4
16
10
100
60
7
3
3
3
20
9
3
3
3
8
28
29
6
4
At the time of the Count
Local Authority
North Lanarkshire
Perth and Kinross
Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
South Ayrshire
Stirling
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
Location
1
2
1
2
3
4
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
3
48
Number
of
Caravans
How Long Had
Caravans
Occupied Site?
30
8
1
4
1
4
3
4
1
15
4
2
1
2
11
269
One or two weeks
One or two weeks
One or two weeks
A longer period
A longer period
A longer period
A few days
One or two weeks
One or two weeks
One or two weeks
A longer period
A few days
A few days
One or two weeks
A longer period
37
Use last 6 months
Number Number
of
of
Times Caravans
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
5
3
1
1
1
1
158
30
8
1
4
25
4
7
4
1
59
10
2
1
2
11
591
Table 8. Use of Unauthorised Encampments in Last 6 months
Local Authority
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee
East/ Midlothian
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Edinburgh, City of
Eilean Siar
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow
Highland
Inverclyde
Moray
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Orkney
Perth and Kinross
Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
Shetland
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
Number of
places
identified
Number
Occupied at
Count
12
6
11
0
1
8
6
6
5
0
0
6
0
6
6
1
24
5
4
6
5
3
19
12
3
0
6
2
6
4
15
188
2
3
1
0
0
3
1
1
3
0
0
1
0
2
2
0
10
0
4
0
2
0
4
2
1
0
2
0
1
0
3
48
38
Number of
times
occupied in
last 6
months
41
5
17
0
3
22
6
8
7
0
0
6
0
13
31
3
53
3
38
31
6
1
10
13
3
0
16
0
5
4
15
360
Total Number
of Caravans
Occupied in
Last 6 months
109
30
97
0
41
49
42
54
23
0
0
21
0
93
320
15
185
18
67
211
66
3
54
34
49
0
105
0
31
17
105
1,839
Table 9: Gypsies/Travellers Households by Local Authority Area and Type of
Site July 2008
Local Authority
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
East/ Midlothian
Edinburgh
Eilean Siar
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow
Highland
Inverclyde
Moray
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Orkney
Perth & Kinross
Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
Shetland
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
Council/
Total
Private Camps
RSL
Households
33%
21%
45%
33
45%
27%
27%
44
50%
0%
50%
10
100%
0%
0%
19
100%
0%
0%
10
37%
17%
46%
35
62%
0%
38%
21
0%
18%
82%
11
100%
0%
0%
5
0%
0%
0%
0
71%
0%
29%
17
71%
0%
29%
14
0%
0%
0%
0
36%
20%
43%
44
40%
34%
26%
95
0%
0%
0%
0
44%
0%
56%
70
0%
0%
0%
0
0%
0%
100%
21
100%
0%
0%
9
0%
0%
100%
38
0%
0%
0%
0
36%
45%
18%
55
0%
0%
100%
7
89%
0%
11%
9
0%
0%
0%
0
27%
0%
73%
26
30%
70%
0%
99
78%
0%
22%
9
100%
0%
0%
23
30%
0%
70%
20
42%
22%
36%
744
39
Table 10: Gypsies/Travellers Households by Local Authority Area and
Type of Site
Local Authority
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll & Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
East/ Midlothian
Edinburgh
Eilean Siar
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow
Highland
Inverclyde
Moray
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Orkney
Perth & Kinross
Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
Shetland
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
SCOTLAND
% of Total
Estimated
Population2
2
A
9
19
12
19
8
13
12
0
5
0
9
13
0
12
29
1
25
0
0
12
1
0
16
0
5
0
8
25
7
19
6
283
0
5 year mean
B
C
3
21
4
11
9
6
0
8
0
0
6
10
0
4
1
8
0
0
6
0
0
8
0
9
0
0
4
9
25
36
0
0
10
26
0
2
0
26
0
22
0
13
0
0
7
11
0
11
12
1
0
0
1
15
58
3
0
8
0
1
0
24
146
293
0
0
921
476
954
D
33
33
27
27
8
29
16
8
5
6
18
22
0
24
90
1
61
2
26
34
13
0
34
11
18
0
23
86
15
20
30
721
1
A
8
18
14
17
9
13
10
0
4
0
8
12
0
10
27
2
22
0
2
14
2
0
18
0
6
0
8
24
8
18
6
278
42%
8 year mean
B
C
2
15
6
11
10
6
0
9
0
0
8
8
0
3
1
7
0
0
8
0
0
6
0
15
0
0
5
6
18
38
0
2
9
24
0
3
0
21
0
15
6
8
0
0
6
9
0
8
10
1
0
0
0
15
55
2
0
7
0
2
3
17
147
253
22%
37%
2,351
902
477
These totals are based on the mean derived across 5 and 8 year periods.
40
822
D
24
34
29
26
9
28
13
8
4
8
14
27
0
21
83
4
55
3
23
28
16
0
32
8
16
0
23
81
16
20
26
677
100%
2,191
© Crown copyright 2009
ISBN: 978-0-7559-7462-7
Scottish Government
St Andrew’s House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
Produced for the Scottish Government by RR Donnelley B59896
Published by the Scottish Government, March 2009
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