Travellers illegally camped at Forres Enterprise Park despite the efforts of Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Travellers have set up another illegal encampment in Forres - where £23,000 of damage has been caused over the last five years.

Six caravans and associated vehicles have camped in the field next to Highland and Island Enterprise’s (HIE) Horizon building at Forres Enterprise Park for the second year in-a-row.

A HIE spokesperson said: “We believe the travellers arrived on Sunday, June 29. One bollard has been removed. We are now following due process with Moray Council and sheriff officers.”

A Moray Council spokesperson confirmed the authority is aware of the unauthorised camp.

He said: “Our officer has attended the site to engage with those present, provide a copy of the code of conduct for unauthorised encampments and discuss the general management of the area.

“We are in ongoing dialogue with the landowner to ensure appropriate coordination and management of the situation.”

The Gazette recently reported that travellers’ stays at Forres Enterprise Park over the last five years have cost HIE £23,000 in repair and waste removal costs. no one has been prosecuted for the cost to the taxpayer due to “insufficient evidence”, despite the damage and rubbish amassing in plain sight during the encampments.

Witnesses have already described seeing full bin bags and industrial garden waste in the field at the enterprise park, just days after the latest arrival.

Meanwhile, travellers who set up at the Forres Academy playing field at the Plasmon at the start of June were still there at the end of the school term last week.

A student who would prefer nameless claimed the school stopped using the field for PE when the travellers moved onto it.

He said: “It was disappointing to see them trashing the field and blaring loud music while we were in lessons. Their chickens and dogs made a lot of noise too.

“They told my friends to stop playing football there during one lunchtime so they could get some peace and quiet. They should use official campsites with amenities rather than messing up public property.”

Moray Council held a case conference to discuss the effect of the travellers' stay at the Plasmon.

“It was deemed that there were insufficient grounds to proceed with legal action,” said a local authority spokesman. “The area is being monitored by our Unauthorised Encampment Officer and is generally being kept in a good condition.

“Should circumstances change, we will convene a further case conference to consider our position.”