A GROUP of travellers have set up camp on the playing fields behind Haddington’s Knox Academy – just days after an eviction order was served on nine caravans on the outskirts of the town.

Residents living in houses surrounding the field reported a procession of five caravans moving onto the site at lunchtime, on Wednesday, accompanied by several vans.

The barrier which blocks the access to the ground had been lifted prior to their arrival.

The travellers, who are believed to have been part of the group ordered to leave the Gateside Commerce Park industrial estate on Monday, parked up their mobile homes at the far end of the playing fields on the eve of pupils returning to the school.

The Gateside travellers have been given three weeks to quit the site, which has lain largely vacant for years and is the subject of a planning application, which would see both houses and business units created.

On Wednesday, concerned residents gathered to watch as the travellers arrived at the field.

One man said: “They drove straight over the football pitches and started setting up; they’ve come from Gateside, which means the rest will follow unless they’re moved on.

“They can’t stay there.” Police Scotland confirmed it had received a number of complaints from residents within an hour of the first caravans arriving.

A spokesperson said: “We will be liasing with the local authority to come up with a solution.” The plans for Gateside Commerce Park are for 112 houses, 25 per cent of which will be affordable, as well as a number of smaller employment units.

The owners of the site served 21 day notices to the travelling community though sheriff officers.

David Mitchell, managing partner of local property company Manse LLP, which co-owns the site, said: “It is disappointing to see the site becoming increasingly derelict and thereby attract increasing levels of antisocial behaviour, so we are working with the council to bring the site into productive use.” “Given the changing nature of the immediate locality due to the housing proposals for Letham Mains, the forthcoming neighbouring Sainsbury’s store [due to be built] and the residential proposals for the Gateside site to the east, it is important that this site is developed in a manner which will blend in with future development and assist the town in dealing with the increasingly urgent housing shortage which it faces.

“While allocated for employment use, it has been marketed extensively but has had no interest given its location and the size of the units on the site. A re-mix of smaller units plus housing would allow us to deliver development on the site, meaning that issues such as those currently being encountered do not happen in the future.” While the site has been earmarked by the council to accommodate larger scale employment users, despite a prolonged marketing campaign by agents Ryden, there has been no interest from prospective occupiers.

A council spokeswoman said: “We are aware of this situation and are liaising with FES, who are responsible for the playing fields, about how to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”