Glasgow City Council plan to relocate showpeople to be fought in court

Glasgow City Council is planning to relocate showpeople from Govan’s Water Row to a site in the east end, as their eviction is set to be fought in court.

Officials say the ongoing regeneration of Govan can’t progress until the land currently used by two separate showman’s yards is empty.

They are proposing a £100,000 deal to buy land in the Parkhead area of the city as an alternative site for one of the fairground yards.

It is understood that the site on Rigby Street, at its junction with Manscroft Place, has been earmarked for the Stringfellow family.

But the family, who have lived in Water Row for decades, are expected to fight their eviction at the Court of Session in September. They claim the move is discriminatory and breaches human rights legislation.

A council spokesman said: “The acquisition of this site could potentially allow a family of showpeople currently based at Water Row in Govan to relocate to a site that meets their needs and respects their way of life.

“We have carried out a significant amount of work over a long period to find alternative sites that are suitable for the showpeople at Water Row.

“We will continue to work towards a positive outcome that will unlock delivery of the next phase of the Water Row masterplan.”

The first phase of the masterplan for Water Row saw 92 flats constructed and the Govan-Partick bridge open. The second phase is expected to see a further 100 homes built.

But a report to councillors on the city’s contracts and property committee states that work is “unable to be progressed until the council has vacant possession of land that is currently occupied by two separate showman’s yards”.

Funding for other sites has been secured from the Scottish Government’s vacant and derelict land fund and Clyde Mission.

Councillors will be asked to back the acquisition of the land, which has planning permission in for the proposed use, at a meeting on Thursday.

It has the capacity to accommodate up to seven residential chalets, the report adds, and is next to four other yards owned or tenanted by members of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain.

Officials are “satisfied that the proposed site could accommodate one of the yards currently located at Water Row”.

Their report adds: “The provision of the relocation site at Rigby Street/Manscroft Place will enable the council to meet the housing needs of travelling showpeople.”