An illegal encampment of Travellers has moved out of Carnoustie leaving the council to clear up their rubbish.
The group shipped out over the weekend after spending more than a week at the Black Slab car park next to the town’s championship golf course.
More than 30 Travellers set up the makeshift site on October 6, arriving with six caravans, a horsebox and associated vehicles. Angus Council officers were sent to make contact and procedures to serve an eviction notice were initiated.
Throughout the week a litter team was sent down to make sure the car park, which serves the Carnoustie Golf Hotel, was kept clear and accessible. A council spokeswoman confirmed officers had been to the site to check the area.
She said: “There was some litter left behind which we will be clearing up this afternoon.”
When approached by The Courier last week a female Traveller, who asked not to be named, claimed the site was not creating a public nuisance and had been kept tidy.
Local councillors Bill Bowles and Brian Boyd contacted the council last Monday to report the unlicensed settlement.
Residents had raised concerns the group was blighting the image of the town just weeks after Carnoustie Links was viewed by a worldwide audience during the Dunhill Links Championship.
General manager of the course, Graeme Duncan, said the business wouldn’t be directly affected as long as they didn’t remain there long term. Mr Boyd said he was glad the Travellers had decided to move on.
“I am pleased the council dealt with this promptly and they left within a week,” he added.
“My first concern is to my law-abiding constituents who pay their community charges for the services the council provides.
“I also must do what I can to protect our nice environment in Carnoustie and I certainly hope this is the end of the matter for any place within Angus,” he added.
“I’m sure everyone is breathing a sigh of relief, to be honest.”