Concern about caravans at Forres Enterprise Park

CONCERNS have been raised after a group of caravans turned up at Forres Enterprise Park over the weekend.

Four caravans, first spotted on Monday, are parked up on Highlands and Islands Enterprise land behind the business park, prompting worries about lockdown rules being flaunted.

HIE are dealing with the situation. A spokesperson said: "We are aware that travellers have set up camp and we are taking all the appropriate measures to try and resolve the situation.”

Many concerned locals have also been in touch with Moray's MP Douglas Ross.

Mr Ross has contacted the local police area commander seeking reassurance that the force are monitoring and managing the movement of the travellers.

He said: "In normal times the police and council would deal appropriately with illegal encampments of travelling communities across Moray.

"However, I have received several concerned calls about a group who set up camp between Portgordon and Buckie and Forres residents have alerted me to the fact that travellers have set up camp at Forres Business Park.

"Concerns have been raised about travellers moving from area to area during this period, when everyone else is following the guidelines to restrict their movements to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

"It’s important we only travel if absolutely essential and so I have written to the local Chief Inspector seeking reassurance that the police will monitor this situation and deal appropriately with those concerned in order to reassure local people; the overwhelming majority of whom have adhered to the restrictions since they were introduced several weeks ago."

When contacted, Police Scotland said they were "aware of the encampment" but had no further involvement.

Five caravans were spotted by a Buckie woman on the road between Portgordon and Buckie last week, with the group having left at the weekend. However, it appears the two incidents are unrelated.

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