Travellers site upgrades delayed due to lack of funding in Dunbarton

A travellers site in Dumbarton in need of new energy efficient homes may not receive the funding it needs to carry out improvements until April next year.

Residents living at the Dennyston Forge Gypsy Traveller site previously informed West Dunbartonshire Council that they needed new chalet type accommodation and a submission was made to the Scottish Government in support of their funding request.

But the council has since been informed that no new projects will receive funding until April 2025 at the earliest.

The local authority is now proposing that the development forms part of its wider Affordable Housing Supply Programme and is engaging with the Scottish Government to make this happen.

During a housing and communities committee, councillor David McBride asked for an update on how discussions were progressing with the Scottish Government.

He said: “Myself and councillor Johall have met representatives of the travellers site a couple of times. We have visited the site and there is no doubt that there is a desperate need for investment.

“We have a very settled community there and many have been tenants for 20/30 plus years and I think it is fair to say that we are required to put investment into the site.

“We have noted that we were unfortunate and that we would not be receiving government funding for the gypsy traveller accommodation fund.

“I think it is alluded to that we will be looking to develop a wider affordable housing supply programme and we are hoping that the Scottish Government will change the criteria so that we can use the affordable housing supply programme to make some investment in the gypsy travellers site.

“Could you give us some idea of how discussions have gone?

“I think it is fair to say that the people on the site have been paying their rent for their pitch for a long long time and probably not getting the same investment that we would expect for tenants.”

John Kerr, Housing Development and Homelessness Manager, said he was hopeful that there would be a “positive outcome” in terms of the Dennystoun Force regeneration project.

He said: “I share your concerns in terms of the unfortunate nature that we have not achieved the funding that we would have expected to.

“The discussions with the Scottish Government so far have been positive.

“It’s almost like plan B and there is just a slight change that is needed in terms of affordable housing supply guidance that would move that to what the communities are really looking for in terms of the accommodation.

“I am hopeful that we can report back after Tuesday’s meeting regarding [this]. I remain positive that we will get a positive outcome in terms of the Dennystoun Forge regeneration.”