CRAVEN District Council chiefs are to ask magistrates for an order to evict travellers from Aireville Park in Skipton after they ignored a deadline to leave on Monday.

Council officers are appearing at Harrogate Magistrates' Court tomorrow, Thursday, for an enforcement order.

The travellers, who set up camp in the park on Monday, June 22, were originally given a 'direction to leave' by 11am on Monday this week.

Yesterday there were still around 30 caravans and vehicles on the site.

Cllr John Dawson, whose Skipton North ward contains Aireville Park, said that he was very disappointed that the travellers had not moved on.

"It's a great shame that that it is taking so long to get them to go, but I understand that the proper channels have to be followed," he said.

"I am very disappointed that they saw fit to take no notice of the original order, especially as preparations for Skipton Gala will start soon."

A spokesman for Craven District Council said that, following a welfare assessment required by law, a 'direction to leave order' had then been issued. As this had been ignored the next step was to apply to the magistrates in Harrogate.

He added: "Our waste management team has been in communication with the travellers and we have supplied them with bin bags for their waste. We have asked them to deposit their waste bags at a couple of locations on the park, and we are visiting twice a day to remove these bags.

"We have also organised collection of waste to the other encampments along the A65 heading towards the Lancashire border.

"We are investigating reports of fly-tipping and we are also working closely with the police, who will investigate any reports of criminal behaviour.

"Once the travellers have moved off the park, we will take action to clear up any remaining waste from the area."