Scottish Government

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.