FED-UP Irvine residents say “intimidating” illegal traveller encampments are making their life a misery and destroying their local area.

People living next to Irvine Moor say a huge 18-strong caravan encampment has popped up and is refusing to go away.

Residents say the travelling community is leaving mess and using their local area as a toilet and are demanding that council chiefs move them on.

One resident, who asked not to be named and lives next to Irvine Moor, said: "I don’t understand how these people are allowed to get away with this anti social behaviour. There are laws in place for the rest of us, but, it seems, not for them. The mess they leave is just appalling and I’m not ashamed to say, they have left me feeling intimidated on more than one occasion.

“It’s just not on. We’ve seen them doing the toilet outside and they leave rubbish everywhere. If I drop litter I will be fined for it, but they are allowed to leave the place in a complete state and nothing seems to be done.

“As I understand it they have a place down in Redburn which is specifically allocated for them so why are they setting up illegal encampments in other areas of Irvine? Something has to be done.” June Niven, chair of Irvine Community Council said North Ayrshire Council are too soft when it comes to traveller encampments.

She said: “As a member of Irvine Community Council I say North Ayrshire Council are dragging their heels on this issue. They say there’s only so much they can do and there’s procedures they have to follow but that’s nonsense.

"They have powers to clamp down on these people and they are simply not using them.

"The problem is so bad that we have gone to the Scottish Government and we await their advice on how to tackle this problem and as soon as we have it we will be letting North Ayrshire Council know that we know they are not powerless."

Central Ayrshire MP, Brian Donohoe has long campaigned for traveller encampments to be moved and says he is outraged at what he believes is one of the biggest illegal encampments so far this year.

He said: “This is now getting beyond a joke. These people are making a mockery of North Ayrshire, its council, businesses and residents. North Ayrshire is very obviously being seen as a weak link as we are blighted non-stop with illegal encampments on our beauty spots and in our business parks especially during the summer months.

"I have constituents reporting such things as fly tipping to me and witnessing travellers defecating on public pathways and I would urge any constituents of mine who witness such things, or any other criminal or suspicious activity which is worrying them to immediately report this to the Police and ensure you get an incident number so a record is kept of your report. It seems an area which was previously closed off to stop its use by travellers, the old Ravenspark sports ground which was opened up for Marymass Saturday is being put to use.

“I have also received reports of a separate encampment at Bartonholm Gardens where older more vulnerable people are becoming increasingly worried about the close proximity of the travellers camp to their homes.

“It is outrageous that these people are allowed to encroach on the lives of law abiding North Ayrshire citizens and I sincerely hope that North Ayrshire Council are preparing to take steps to have them move on and to deter them from using the Moor so extensively.” A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “Council officers have met with Brian Donohoe and he is fully aware of the council’s legal obligations and the extensive steps it is taking to manage unauthorised encampments. He was also kept fully briefed on the eviction of the group of travellers on the Moor. In these circumstances his press release is somewhat surprising.”