TRAVELLERS have been moved on from a Paisley park after leaving a “trail of devastation” behind them.

Renfrewshire Council obtained a court order on Friday to take appropriate action before allowing the St James’ Park settlers an additional 48 hours to leave voluntarily.

The last of the travellers were expected to leave on Monday after arriving at the park on Greenock Road at the end of June.

Paisley Northwest Councillor Kenny MacLaren had reported the group to the local authority and claimed the environmental team will have a job on their hands cleaning up after them.

He said: “It’d be fair enough if they were just stopping by and not causing any damage but they had to move massive boulders to get in the park, and they were driving vans across it.

“I’ve been encouraging residents as soon as they hear anything to pick up the phone and call the wardens.

“It’s like anything else, if there’s a disturbance then report it to your councillors and let the council know what issues you have.

“I’m expecting the environment team will have to go there now.”

Councillor MacLaren admitted he felt relieved for residents, who had to deal with the noise and rubbish left by travellers.

He said: “A lot of them are quite elderly down there. If you are a widow staying in your house then you’re wondering ‘are they going to come to your door?’ It brings apprehension.”

Meanwhile, Mike Dillon, the spokesman for Paisley North Community Council, said the group was “not happy” the situation had been allowed to go on so long.

He said: “Nobody’s got a problem with the travelling community but clear up your mess behind you.

“Don’t leave a trail of devastation. People use this park for exercise and I know, having spoken to people, they’re only using half of the park because of their dogs.

“It’s a health and safety issue. It should have been tackled earlier. It’s been going on for at least three weeks.”

“We would like to see some sort of local bylaw that forbids parking overnight in green spaces in Renfrewshire.

“The unfortunate by-product of of these people staying in these spaces is what they leave behind.

“The council is going to face a massive bill for the clean up.”

Renfrewshire Council assured it has taken the “appropriate action” to address the issue of travellers staying at the park.

A spokeswoman said “Officers have been monitoring the unauthorised encampment/transit site at St James’ playing fields and have taken the appropriate action in line with Scottish Government guidelines to move the travellers from the site.”