Travellers have taken over two separate fields in Plymouth as concerns are raised about human waste.
Unauthorised encampments have been set up at Devonport Park and Plympton St Mary Playing Fields this week.
The Devonport Park encampment has now left and Plymouth City Council has confirmed that the site has been secured and a clean-up operation arranged.
But the encampment at Plympton St Mary Playing Fields remains under review after a 24-hour notice to quit was served on Wednesday (3 June).
Plymouth City Council said the notice expired at 4.30pm on Thursday (4 June) and will apply to court today for a possession order.
Councillors Andrea Loveridge and Terri Beer (Independent Members, Plympton Erle) have been working on the issue and keeping residents updated.
Cllr Loveridge said she was “extremely disappointed” after access was gained to the valued community space despite previous efforts to protect it.
She said barriers and earth mounds had been put in place over recent years, successfully preventing incursions until the locks were broken.
Cllr Beer said residents had raised concerns about human waste and that she has seen the issue herself.
Noise concerns have also been raised, with residents reporting generators being noisy overnight and dogs barking, she said.
A spokesperson for Plymouth City Council said:
"We are aware of an encampment at Plympton St Mary Playing Fields.
"Officers visited the site the same day to undertake the necessary checks in order to begin the legal process and a 24-hour notice to quit was served on site on Wednesday 3 June.
"The NTQ expires on Thursday 4 June at 4.30pm and if the group are still there upon expiry, we will apply to court on Friday 5 June for a possession hearing date.
"A full clean-up of this site will be undertaken at the earliest opportunity after departure."
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