Travellers have been condemned for leaving a “trail of rubbish” in a Brechin park following a summer stay.
An abandoned car, bags of rubbish and building materials have been left on the Park Place land in what council chiefs have described as a “significant” mess.
The Travellers were served with an official notice to quit but while the majority of the caravans have moved out of the area, residents have been further angered after a small group pitched up in Wards Park just yards away.
One local man said: “They have been here for the past few weeks and have left nothing but a trail of mess.
“They went right across the grass of the park, not bothering to use the track and now they have just left a heap of rubbish behind – an abandoned car, bags of rubbish, bricks, you name it.
“I can’t remember the last time they were on the public park, but they just arrived and set up on the other side of the football pitches with their animals, including a horse and hens.
“The dog warden was down at them – kids were playing in the playpark but I think there had been worries about the dogs they had.
“The sheriff officer’s letter is pinned on the corner of the football pitch and there were about ten caravans, but it’s now down to around four or five which have just moved through to the other park at Wards Road.”
An Angus Council spokesman said: “We were made aware soon after an unauthorised camp set up at Brechin public park in Park Place on June 6.
“Our Gypsy Traveller liaison officer has visited the site to engage with individuals there and, along with our partner agencies, we have dealt with the situation in line with policies and procedures.
“The number of people and vehicles reduced at the Brechin public site before a notice, in the form of a letter from Angus Council, was served by Sheriff Officers on June 21 requesting that the encampment quit the site.
“The mess left behind is significant and we are working with partners to address this.
“We are aware that individuals have now established an unauthorised camp at Wards Road, Brechin and we will continue to monitor the situation in accordance with our policies and procedures.”
