Gypsy/Traveller site near Aberdeen to host parliamentary meeting

31.01.2013

Clinterty Gypsy/Traveller’s site near Aberdeen will host a meeting of the Equal Opportunities Committee on Monday 4 February as part of its inquiry into Where Gypsy/Travellers Live.

The committee has already visited sites in Perth and Kinross, Argyll & Bute, Edinburgh and the Lothians as part of the inquiry. It also heard evidence from Gypsy/Traveller Liaison Officers, site managers, community councils, voluntary organisations, the police, the NHS and local authorities. 

Committee Convener Mary Fee MSP said:

“It is fitting that we hold our committee meeting at Clinterty Gypsy/Traveller’s site as it gives us the opportunity to see where the community lives, in an area of Scotland that has already generated a lot of public interest on the subject.

“Equally important is the ‘Dialogue Day’ session which will allow us to bring together people who hold mixed views on issues such as facilities, cultural differences, policing and unauthorised sites. Our aim is to pool all our evidence to date and look at the solutions going forward.”

The Equal Opportunities Committee will take part in an informal ‘Dialogue Day’ session hosted by Grampian Regional Equality Council (GREC) on Monday 4 February. Representatives from Clinterty Gypsy/Traveller site, Aberdeen Council, Aberdeenshire Council, the NHS and Grampian Police will also participate.

Any media wishing to interview the Convener or to attend the public meeting that begins at 2pm should contact Ann Donald at the number below.

Background

The Equal Opportunities Committee reviewed the work of previous committees and through an awareness-raising session with Gypsy/Travellers, has identified that where the community live is often at the root of many of the problems they face.
It has carried out a number of site visits across Scotland to see and hear first-hand about the challenges of finding and living on a site as well as living in permanent housing as a Gypsy/Traveller.

The committee will publish its report on the inquiry in spring 2013.

Photographs

Photographs of the event will be available free of charge from the Scottish Parliament’s photographer Andrew Cowan 0131 348 5878.