New migrant accommodation rules

There will be rules on toilet facilities, space, lighting and fire safety

Landlords and farmers in Angus who provide migrant worker accommodation will have to meet strict new standards.

The council has agreed a series of licensing requirements which would have to be met by those housing the staff.

They cover things like the number of toilets, sinks, cookers and heaters which would have to be provided.

There are also rules on space per person, space between caravans, lighting, electrical safety and fire prevention and detection.

'Pretty basic'

Councillor David Fairweather said: "What we found when we were going round some of these caravan sites was that they were pretty substandard.

"Accommodation was pretty basic - no running water, toilet facilities were poor, there were no laundry facilities - so we just felt something had to be done.

"All credit to the farmers and businesses in Angus because they have agreed with us, and the standard of accommodation now for our international and migrant workers is getting better by the day.

"At the end of the day, if you're looking after a worker you'll get a better return from it and the farmers that we've spoken to so far are delighted with the response from the migrant workers."

He added that Angus Council were leading the way on migrant worker accommodation and he hoped other local authorities would follow.