Relief as Travellers leave car park site - Moray

From the Forres Gazette

TRAVELLERS who had been camped on the New Forres Wood car park, by the Muiry Woodlands left over the weekend.

Woodlands spokesman Iain Suttie said that they were relieved that the Travellers have moved on, and keen to get the woodland walks re-opened to local people as soon as possible.

“They were still there on Saturday teatime,” he said, “so I didn’t think they would be going anywhere, but by Sunday they had left.”

The Travellers had been camped on two car parks which are located on opposite sides of the road, by the woodlands - The Muiry Wood and New Forres Wood car parks.

They recently vacated one of the sites after heavy snowfall, following drainage problems. Some moved onto the one site and others appeared to set up camp at the old Tesco site as a temporary measure, moving after 24 hours.

The Forres Community Woodlands Trust who own and manage the woodlands car parks contacted Moray Council as so much mess was left behind.

A council spokesman said that they had asked the Travellers to return and clear up the mess, which they had done.

Mr Suttie confirmed that the most recently vacated second site wasn’t left in a bad condition, and they were now pulling out all the stops to get it re-opened.

“We want to get it open to the public as soon as possible now,” he said. “We will be doing some temporary repairs to paths, and hope to get it open as soon as possible.”

Mr Suttie said he had already informed staff at the nearby Cathay Nursing Home they could resume using the woodland walks. A path with disabled access by the New Forres Wood Car park, had ben out of action, due to the fact that Travellers vehicles were parked across the entrance.