- Travellers receive eviction notice Granton site.
- Camp deemed illegal by city council.
- Residents vow to stay put.
- Tensions rise over site occupation.
- Council demands immediate vacation.
Granton (Edinburgh Daily News) January 16, 2026 – Travellers encamped at an illegal site in Granton have been served an eviction notice by the City of Edinburgh Council but have defiantly declared they are “going nowhere”, escalating a long-running dispute over unauthorised land occupation. The notice, delivered this week, cites breaches of planning regulations and public health concerns, demanding the group vacate the waterfront plot near West Shore Road by a specified deadline. Local residents and councillors express frustration over the camp’s persistence, amid reports of ongoing disruption.
What triggered the eviction notice?
The eviction notice stems from the travellers’ establishment of an unauthorised caravan site on a derelict industrial plot in Granton, a northern Edinburgh suburb undergoing regeneration. As reported by Kevin Quinn of the Edinburgh Evening News, the City of Edinburgh Council issued the formal notice on January 14, 2026, after repeated warnings failed to prompt voluntary departure.
The site, lacking planning permission, contravenes the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and local bylaws, with council officers documenting over 20 vehicles, temporary structures, and waste accumulation since the group’s arrival in late November 2025.
Council leader Cllr Claire Miller stated,
“This illegal encampment poses risks to public safety and hampers vital regeneration efforts in Granton. We have exhausted all reasonable dialogue; enforcement action is now unavoidable.”
Quinn’s coverage highlights that the plot, owned by a private developer, was earmarked for affordable housing, rendering the occupation a direct obstacle to community plans.
Who are the travellers refusing to leave?
The group comprises approximately 15 families, primarily Irish Travellers, who have resided at the site for over six weeks. Speaking to Kevin Quinn of the Edinburgh Evening News, spokesperson Patrick Ward insisted,
“We are going nowhere. This is our home now, and the council has offered no alternative pitches. Where are we supposed to take our children in this weather?”
Ward emphasised the families’ vulnerability, noting several school-age children and elderly members reliant on the site’s proximity to local services.
As detailed in the same Edinburgh Evening News article, Ward recounted prior evictions from sites in Sighthill and Hermiston Gait, claiming,
“We’ve been moved on four times in two years without proper provision. The council’s Traveller strategy is all talk.”
Other residents, including Mary Collins, echoed this, telling reporters,
“We’ve kept the place clean and caused no bother. It’s the council that’s failing us.”
What does the council say about alternatives?
City of Edinburgh Council officials maintain that temporary accommodation options were communicated but rejected by the group. Regeneration and planning convener Cllr Scott Arthur explained,
“We operate 12 official pitches across the city, but demand far exceeds supply. Outreach teams offered transit site access at Duddingston, which was declined due to its distance from schools.”
Arthur added,
“Enforcement is a last resort; our priority remains dialogue, but illegal sites undermine efforts to provide sustainable solutions for all.”
According to a council spokesperson quoted by Kevin Quinn,
“Health and safety inspections revealed inadequate sanitation and fire risks, prompting the notice. Bailiffs stand ready if voluntary compliance fails by January 23.”
The council’s Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment, referenced in the report, identifies a shortfall of 50 pitches citywide, fuelling the impasse.
How have locals reacted to the granton camp?
Granton community members have voiced mounting concerns over noise, litter, and traffic from the site. Neighbour Jim Fraser told the Edinburgh Evening News,
“Lorries come and go at all hours, and rubbish is blowing into the estate. We’ve lived here 30 years watching Granton improve this sets us back.”
Local business owner Aisha Khan added,
“Customers avoid the area; it’s putting people off the new artisan market.”
Ward 17 councillor Jo Mowat, representing the area, described the situation as “untenable” in Quinn’s piece:
“Residents feel ignored after months of complaints. The council must balance compassion with community rights.”
A petition circulated by locals, garnering 450 signatures, urges immediate clearance, citing anti-social behaviour logs submitted to Police Scotland.
Why is granton a flashpoint for traveller sites?
Granton’s transformation from post-industrial wasteland to vibrant waterfront hub amplifies sensitivities around land use. The Edinburgh Evening News details how the area’s £1.2 billion Waterfront regeneration masterplan, approved in 2022, envisions 3,000 homes, parks, and commercial space by 2035. The illegal camp occupies a key 2-acre parcel, stalling groundworks valued at £15 million.
As Kevin Quinn writes,
“This mirrors national trends: Scotland hosts over 500 unauthorised sites annually, per Showpeople’s Guild data, straining local authorities.”
Councillor Miller affirmed,
“Granton deserves its renaissance without such disruptions. We seek fair outcomes for travellers too, but not at residents’ expense.”
What happens if travellers ignore the notice?
Non-compliance risks swift enforcement. Quinn’s reporting cites council protocols: post-deadline, site teams secure the area, towing vehicles at occupants’ cost—typically £500 per unit plus storage. Families face dispersal, with child welfare referrals to social services if minors are endangered.
Patrick Ward countered defiantly:
“They’ll need an army to move us. We’ve rights under the Human Rights Act—family life and home.”
Legal aid solicitor Eamon Flynn, instructed by the group, warned the Edinburgh Evening News,
“We’ll seek an interdict in Edinburgh Sheriff Court, arguing proportionality. Evictions without halting sites breach duties under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.”
Have similar incidents occurred recently in Edinburgh?
This marks the third such standoff in Edinburgh this year. In September 2025, 12 caravans were cleared from Corstorphine after a two-week notice, as covered by the Edinburgh Evening News. October saw a Hermiston site eviction, where families accepted transit pitches post-negotiation.
Quinn notes a pattern:
“Council data shows 27 unauthorised encampments in 2025, up 20% from 2024, amid housing pressures.”
Nationally, the Traveller Movement reports 85 evictions across Scotland last year, often criticised by NGOs for lacking alternatives.
What support exists for travellers in Edinburgh?
The council’s Gypsy/Traveller Team provides outreach, including education liaison and health referrals. A dedicated site at Mortonhall offers long-term pitches, though waitlists exceed 18 months. Charities like the Scottish Traveller Education Programme assist schooling, with eight Granton children enrolled locally.
Spokesperson Mary Collins acknowledged aid:
“We’ve used the food bank and mobile clinic, but permanence is key.”
Councillor Arthur pledged,
“We’re bidding for 20 new pitches via Holyrood funding, but delivery takes time.”
How does this fit the broader UK traveller policy?
Devolved matters aside, UK-wide tensions persist post-2024 planning reforms. The Edinburgh Evening News references a Scottish Government review, urging 500 new pitches by 2030. Advocacy group Friends, Families and Travellers calls Granton “a symptom of systemic neglect,” per director Gemma Burke.
In England, similar evictions under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 have surged, drawing Equality and Human Rights Commission scrutiny. Quinn concludes his report: “Granton encapsulates the clash between progress and protection, with no easy resolution.”
This unfolding saga underscores Edinburgh’s navigation of cultural sensitivities, housing shortages, and urban renewal. As deadlines loom, dialogue remains the council’s preferred path, though travellers’ resolve tests that approach. Further developments expected imminently.
