A GYPSY travellers camp which was closed in 2021 after extensive vandalism will need more than £220,000 to make it safe to live on, a report has revealed.

Midlothian and East Lothian Councils jointly run the camp at Old Dalkeith Colliery bordering the two counties and have a lease from landowners the Buccleuch Estate which runs until 2034.

However, a report to Midlothian Council this week said that East Lothian’s officers were already seeking an early termination of the lease and wanted to pursue “alternative gypsy/traveller site options within their own boundary”.

It urged Midlothian councillors to approve similar plans, revealing that each local authority currently paid £17,060 a year to lease the site, which is not considered fit for purpose.

The report said that both councils invested in bringing the site – which they began leasing in 2013 – up to minimum standards required five years ago but had to close it two years later after it was damaged so badly by tenants it was no longer usable.

They continue to pay the annual lease for the site, which had eight pitches and even when open had the lowest occupancy of any local authority site in the south east of Scotland at just 63 per cent.

Options explored

Last December, East Lothian Council responded to a Freedom of Information request from the local democracy reporter for copies of any documents relating to their decision not to reopen the site by saying that no formal decision or meeting had been held to discuss closing it permanently.

They said: “Options are currently being explored and no formal decision has been made in this regard.”

However, the report to Midlothian councillors this week made it clear that East Lothian Council was making efforts to release itself from the lease.

It said the council's officers were “in the process of seeking authorisation for an early termination of the site lease”.

The report added: “It is recommended that Midlothian Council should similarly authorise an early termination of the site lease and seek alternative gypsy/traveller accommodation options which meet current need and demand.”

The report said that the damage to the site would require £220,000 to bring it back to minimum standards required by the Scottish Government and pointed out that local authorities were not required to provide a camp for gypsy/travellers.

Councillors agreed to the recommendations but told officers that, if the early termination of the lease came with a cost, it would have to be brought back before elected members for approval.

East Lothian Council has been asked for comment.