The general manager of Carnoustie Golf Links has warned a Traveller encampment they are not welcome long term.
A group of 30 Travellers pitched up on Sunday night at the Black Slab car park, just yards away from the famous course and the luxury Carnoustie Golf Hotel.
While the convoy of six caravans and associated vehicles has provoked an angry reaction from some residents, Links chief Graeme Duncan appears to have adopted a more relaxed approach.
He said: “The encampment is not directly affecting us at the moment. However, the black slab serves as an important access for golfing visitors, so it would not be an appropriate location in the long term.”
Caravans and a horsebox remained parked at either side of the car park which leads to the rear of the hotel. Coach parties accessing the building are still having to drive through the makeshift site.
Peter Burke, chairman of Carnoustie Development Group, said: “At this time of the year when the car park is not used by visitors I don’t see a major problem providing that they move on quickly they are Travellers after all and more importantly that they don’t leave refuse which needs to be cleaned up at the council’s, and ultimately the residents’, expense.
“Unfortunately experience around Angus shows this not to always be the case.”
The Angus Council has a Code for Gypsy Travellers in Angus which states: “Your stay on land in Angus will depend on your consideration for the environment and others in the area.”
Under the ‘please do’ section it asks that groups are kept small up to three caravans with slightly larger encampments to be kept away from built-up areas.
Travellers are asked to space out and phone the access line to request bin bags for rubbish.
Angus Provost Helen Oswald, who is a Carnoustie councillor, said the council must follow due process once an illegal site has been reported.
She added: “I believe the process has been started. The Travellers are well aware we can’t just remove people and have got to go through the proper channels.
“I will be looking for the council to be dealing with it as promptly as possible.”