Edinburgh travellers break silence to defend themselves and call for permanent site after angering locals
Edinburgh travellers break silence to defend themselves and call for permanent site after angering locals.
A traveller family who has intermittently resided at the contentious illegal Granton camp since 2019 has defended themselves and advocated for a permanent travellers’ site in Edinburgh.
Locals living near the illegal travellers’ site behind B&M Bargains in Granton have expressed worries about anti-social conduct and fires, with local MPs calling for action.
One of the two main traveller families who live there has defended themselves, advocating for a permanent site in Edinburgh to avoid upsetting locals.
Jim, 34, who begged us not to reveal his surname, has lived in Granton “on and off” for the past six years with his wife and ten (soon to be eleven) children.
Jim, who buys and sells cars, said he feels like he’s a part of the community because he frequents the local bar, shops regularly, and makes acquaintances in the neighbourhood.
And, with his children attending Granton Primary School, he says he is proud to call Edinburgh home.
He said, “I get along quite well with the natives. I’ve never had any problems in the entire time we’ve been here. The Anchor Inn is my local bar, my wife goes to the neighbourhood hairdresser, and my children attend the local school.
“We’ve blended into the community. Ask any local businesses; they all know us and seem to get along with us; we all say hello to one another, know locals’ names, and occasionally stop for a chat;
I believe they would only say positive things about us if you asked them. “Locals come down to visit us on the site, and they don’t feel threatened. We do our best to assimilate into the local community; we do not want locals to feel intimidated.
People are welcome to come and speak with us. And maybe, they’ll see that we’re simply friendly individuals trying to get by. Nobody is perfect, but we do our best.
“Every ethnicity or background has its advantages and disadvantages, but we do our best to treat others fairly.
I know the people in the new houses aren’t glad we’re there, but I don’t want to approach them because they probably don’t want to communicate with us; they may have already formed an opinion about us. But I’m happy to chat with them if they want. “We are reasonable people.”
Jim stated that he would like to see a permanent travellers’ site developed in the Scottish capital. “We want the council to assist us in establishing ourselves permanently in Edinburgh; it is now our home.
We have made numerous pals here. We are registered with the local doctors, our children attend school here, and we consider Edinburgh to be our home,” he stated. “Our kids adore it here;
Portobello Beach is nearby, and we’ve never had a difficulty going there. “The kids enjoy living in Granton and have made friends here.” As travellers, housing is not our way of life. I’ve always lived in a trailer; it’s all I know.
I do not desire a house. We simply want a permanent location in Edinburgh where we can call home and pay our bills with everyone else. Not disturbing anyone just by being present. “We just want a peaceful life, have a pint in the local pub at the weekend, we want to mix with the community and be friends with everyone.”
Locals living near the Granton site have also expressed worry about firefighters failing to respond to flames ignited at the illegal travellers’ site.
And, while he admits to burning his regular garbage but not fly-tipping, Jim claims he has often requested the authorities for wheelie bins, and he criticises the traveller families that visit the Granton site and remain for brief periods.
He stated, “We move around a little but have been largely here since 2019, and have only been here for the past year. Most of the time, we are the only ones down here, along with another family.
“However, in the summer more come here and we can’t stop them. But they give us a bad name. That wasn’t our kids racing around on quad bikes.
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