A family from the travelling community seeks to overturn a council’s decision on their caravan living situation in East Ayrshire
Galston: A family is in a bit of a pickle with the local council over their caravan situation. John Cummings and his family want to stay put in their static caravan, but the council said no. They’re appealing the decision, hoping to settle down in the area.
John bought some land in Milrig Crescent, where he planned to build houses. But then life threw some curveballs at him, like COVID and family issues. So, they moved into a static caravan on the property and put up a fence to make it feel more secure.
Initially, the council gave them a temporary thumbs-up for the caravan, but that was supposed to end after a year. Now, John’s trying to get permission to keep the caravan and add a “day room” for his family. He’s hoping to extend their stay for another year while he figures out the housing plans.
Interestingly, only one neighbor objected, saying they didn’t want to see caravans from their home. The council pointed out that John’s original plan for four houses had expired, and they were concerned about the caravan looking permanent.
In his appeal, John admitted he’s not ready to build houses just yet. He argued that their presence has actually improved the area, which used to be a hotspot for vandalism and fly-tipping. He feels they’ve made the neighborhood safer and more welcoming.
John shared that they’re happy in the community and get along well with everyone. He emphasized that they want to stay in Galston, where they have family nearby. He’s worried about what will happen if they can’t keep the caravan, as they don’t want to live on the streets or in car parks.
While he didn’t go into detail about their culture in the appeal, it’s clear that being part of the travelling community is important to them. The council will review their appeal soon, and everyone’s hoping for a positive outcome.
