COUNCIL chiefs are taking action to remove a group of travellers in Irvine, writes Lewis McKenzie

NORTH Ayrshire Council have revealed they are taking legal action after travellers sighted in Irvine failed to meet a notice for eviction. 

It is believed that the group arrived at the playing fields on Quarry Road early on Sunday morning. 

The sighting follows on from previous reporting of travellers groups appearing on different sites across the North and South Ayrshire region. 

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We take our responsibilities regarding Gypsy Travellers seriously and our policy seeks to strike a balance between the needs and legitimate expectations of members of the settled community and the Gypsy Travellers.

"The encampment at Quarry Road was reported to our Gypsy Traveller Encampment Officer first thing on Monday morning (July, 25) and an assessment of the encampment was undertaken immediately. 

“The location and size of the encampment was considered unsuitable for the area and the council served notice for the travellers to be off site by Tuesday, July 26 by 9am. The travellers failed to meet this deadline and we have now therefore started legal proceedings.”

Last week, our sister paper the Ayr Advertiser reported disruption caused by a travellers camp which had set up at St John’s Primary School.

In that instance, South Ayrshire Council’s Head of Neighbourhood Services, Mike Newell, said: “The travellers don’t have permission to be there and we are going through all appropriate legal channels to remove them”.

A spokesperson from Police Scotland said: “We are aware of them. We will liaise with the council, who will proceed with the case.”