Half-a-dozen caravans have parked on land owned by urban regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde (RI) next to newly-built industrial units.

People living in nearby Kelburn Terrace contacted the Tele to say they are sick of the mess that is left behind by the camps.

A 59-year-old resident who did not want to be named told the Tele: “The council are always here clearing up after them.

“We would get into serious trouble if we left a bin bag lying around, but these people get away with much worse than that.

“They use the land nearby as toilets and they dump a lot of rubbish left over from the building work that they do. Nobody else would get away with that sort of thing, but nothing happens to them.

“There’s still a restriction notice on a lamp post saying that no-one is allowed to set up camp there but they’ve done it anyway.” The complaints come amid new claims that residents feel threatened by the travellers’ ‘wild’ dogs One resident said: “People here are afraid to walk their dogs because the travellers’ dogs are running wild and would attack them. I’ve seen the travellers’ dogs running at people getting off trains at Woodhall Station.” Inverclyde’s Depute Provost, Councillor David Wilson, says he is worried that the repeated illegal camps could discourage potential companies from moving into the new business park.

He said: “It certainly can’t help that anyone coming along to see these splendid units sees the travellers there.

“It may be difficult to stop them arriving, but they should be moved on as quickly as possible.

“The Kelburn development is designed to create jobs by bringing new companies into Inverclyde, but you can’t market these new units when travellers’ caravans are parked outside.

“This could put companies off coming here, and could cost us badly-needed jobs.” No-one was available for comment at RI, who last month asked the travellers to leave and threatened them with court action.

On that occasion it was believed they departed before the court process started.

An Inverclyde Council spokesman today said that officials had visited the site.

He said: “We will continue to monitor the situation following agreed council policy, which is in line with Scottish Government guidelines.

“Any issues will be dealt with as and when they arise.” Kelburn Park is the most easterly enterprise development area within Inverclyde, and has been hailed as having ‘huge potential’ to attract inward investment and create fresh employment for the area.