Travellers camped out at a disputed site in Angus will be allowed to enjoy the festive season in their new accommodation, it has emerged.
Only days after being moved on, caravans returned to Hillside last month and have been given until January 20 to move on again.
Angus Council has vowed to act on the Kinnaber Road site, east of The Knowe, but shied away from taking costly direct action.
The matter, which has been running for the last six years, may still result in a conviction or a fine of up to £20,000 for the site’s owner, P Forsyth of Stonehaven.
A council spokeswoman said: “They have until 12 January 2014 to remove the caravans, failing which a fixed penalty notice will be issued.”
The planning service was authorised to instigate further enforcement action by councillors on the development standards committee on November 26.
Land has been used for the siting of caravans in breach of planning control. In addition a septic tank had been installed without planning permission, which was the subject of enforcement action.
That notice was subject of appeal to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals but that appeal was dismissed and the enforcement notice upheld.
The notice required the cessation of the unauthorised use of the land and the removal of the septic tank by November 1, which was done by November 5.
However, during a subsequent routine monitoring site visit it was identified that caravans had returned to the site.
In 2009, the Scottish Government dismissed an appeal for housing on the site, which the council had “previously resisted”.
Hillside Community Council leader Kathleen Ritchie agreed it was “time for them to move on”.
Ms Ritchie said residents were calling for swift action to empty the site which, they said, had suffered from littering.
“They have been told by Angus Council and the Scottish Government to leave the site, but they are still here,” Ms Ritchie added.
An agent representing the owner added: “My client maintains he is not causing any nuisance to neighbours and wants to get the benefit of his land in accordance with planning rules.”