Aberdeen City Council is taking legal action to remove a group of travellers who set up camp near the entrance to Hazlehead Park.
Residents said yesterday they have been left frustrated and concerned for their safety by the continued presence of the unauthorised encampment.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “The council’s traveller liaison officer has visited the location today and we will now take the appropriate legal action to deal with the encampment.”
The date for a court hearing to obtain an eviction order is likely be next week.
Hazlehead, Ashley and Queen’s Cross ward councillor Ross Thomson said the latest incident reinforced the need for a by-law to tackle the problem. The Labour-led administration has unsuccessfully lobbied the Scottish Government for local legislation.
Mr Thomson said: “With this we would be able to act sooner, issue our own eviction order and apply financial penalties as well as police action.”
Some of the travellers appeared to have left voluntarily yesterday, as the caravan count was down to nine from 15 who originally pitched up.
Nearby resident Ashley Pearson was among those with concerns.
The 40-year-old said: “The drive is completely blocked, kids like to run through the woods but now they’re going out of their way to avoid it.
“We know from previous times how much rubbish they leave and so we’re just waiting to see that again this time.”
Last year, council tax payers in Aberdeen paid £15,000 to clean up the mess left behind by a set of travellers in the park.
Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “I now collect my daughter up from school in the car because she is not walking past them.”
“It’s one rule for them and another for us, if we parked like they have we’d be removed and fined but for them it takes a court order.”
Councillor Martin Greig, also of the Hazlehead, Ashley and Queen’s Cross ward, expressed similar concerns.
“Unfortunately people are finding the area of the park is not as safe as it once was.
“I’m pleased the council and the police have acted but the process is much too slow.
“Once the eviction notice is given they usually leave within a week.”