MP Central Ayrshire Brian Donohoe is to host a ‘summit’ meeting to tackle what he sees as a lack of action over issues with the travelling community in North Ayrshire.

Mr Donohoe has invited local residents and businesses who have complained to him about alleged anti-social activity, crime and the “scourge of traveller encampments” to meet with representatives from Police Scotland, North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government.

He will be approaching a member of the travelling community to attend, but a spokesperson for Mr Donohoe said this week: “We are not yet aware who will be attending from the travelling community.” The MP said: “We are in October and we have still been blighted by the scourge of traveller encampments appearing in our local beauty spots and within our business and enterprise parks.

“The public, my constituents, remain concerned at the lack of action on this issue although I do see, only recently, a marked improvement in the time taken to move travellers on, albeit more due to the fact that it seems to be the same faction of previously ‘known’ groups which have been evicted before for conduct reasons.

“I have recently received a visit from representatives from a business in an Irvine Industrial Estate which has indicated its intentions to leave the area should something not be done to tackle this issue more expeditiously.

“I would like to see some sort of working group formed with representatives from all relevant organisations taking part.

“It is time all concerned came together to discuss plans of action to stop next summer being blighted by constant intrusions.

“Whether that be a campaign to warn people against giving them work or installing deterrents such as bollards to stop easy access.

“We all must work together to try and alleviate the nuisance to the law abiding people of Ayrshire who are witnessing these people fly tipping and using their areas as an outdoor toilet as well as other alleged criminal activities.

“The police must take a more proactive approach as I am having constituents tell me of incidents of travellers travelling with five people in the front seat of a van with children on their laps not properly secured and driving right past the police.

“Much more needs to be done to try and keep these encampments away from our residents and businesses and hopefully the summit I plan to hold in December will help with that as I will also invite concerned residents and businesses to attend.” A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Gypsy/Travellers have a right to their traditional way of life, but that right must be exercised responsibly.

“We expect the police to deal appropriately with any allegations of offences by those on unauthorised encampments.

“The Scottish Government’s guidelines on managing unauthorised encampments are based on the two key principles – that encampments should be managed to minimise disruption for all concerned, and that the same standards of behaviour should be expected from all members of the community.” “We have established a national Gypsy/Traveller Site Working Group to look at issues around unauthorised encampments, site quantity, location and tenancy agreements for those living on sites.

“We will consider any correspondence from Mr Donohoe when it arrives.” A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “We are not aware of any outstanding issues involving travellers raised by Mr Donohoe and are also unaware of his proposed summit.” Police Scotland were unavailable for comment as we went to print.