A popular green space in Dundee has been left in a “disgraceful” condition after dozens of Travellers moved on.
The group left dozens of bags of rubbish and other items, including a wheelbarrow, a TV, wooden panels, a dog kennel, dog food and gas canisters, at Riverside Drive.
Locals hit out at the state of the area.
Dog walker Peter Orr, 52, from Hawkhill, said: “It’s a disgrace really.
“At the end of the day, we are the ones who are having to pay for all of it to be cleaned up and taken away but there’s not a lot the council can do.”
Jogger Sinead Henry, 24, from the West End, said: “I ran past on Saturday and saw all the caravans pitched up.
“It’s normally quite a nice and tidy area but there was lots of rubbish…”
Council workers have attended the playing fields to pick up some of the junk left behind.
On Saturday The Courier exclusively revealed that action to tackle the relationship between the city and Travellers was on the horizon.
City councillor and housing convener John Alexander told The Courier that he believes the current system is broken and failing not only residents and the council but the Traveller community itself.
He added that the process of rectifying that would not be short, and solutions would not be found overnight, but he said the effort was nonetheless vital.
“Clearly there are very strong emotions on both sides of this issue and it is vital that we work to better represent the needs of residents and of Gypsy/Traveller groups,” he said.
“The crux of the matter is that we have an excellent site that is available for Travellers and can be used at their leisure.
“That suggests to me that there is no good reason to be camping on Magdalen Green or any other illicit site within the city.”