A COUNCIL is set to go to court if travellers refuse to leave a beachside car park.
Conwy County Borough Council has begun action against the group which set up camp in Pensarn at the weekend.
Their illeagal camp is on the council run car park near the shoreline and the popular Beach Cafe and Shop on Pensarn Promenade.
The authority is drafting an order instructing them to leave the area which is popular with locals and particularly daytrippers and visitors.
A spokeswoman for Conwy County Borough Council said the council had begun the process of serving them with a notice to vacate the land and if they refused they would go the County Court.
The camp has angered local businessman Michael Williams whose family has run ice cream kiosks for nearly 50 years.
He said: “In the past the council has promised barriers to avoid this happening but nothing has been done.
“Their arrival will have a devastating effect on trade which has been slow so far this summer. It will deter locals and holidaymakers from parking there.
The travellers have set up camp near the no overnight parking sign.
Mr Williams added: “There are three vehicles there at the moment but the fear and talk among people is that more of them will arrive. They have taken over a quarter of the car park.
“The council have promised us barriers. We were told that money was set aside and work would begin this summer but nothing has happened.
“Myself and other traders have seen our rents go up and for what.
“We feel the council are not interested in us. These people can come along and do this without any thought for others.”
Paul Evans, group engineer with Conwy County Borough Council, said the barrier issue formed part of a raft of improvements to Pensarn car park.
He said: "We have been working hard to draw all the funding together for this £48k project, some of which we hope will be granted through the SRA initiative.
“The town council and this authority are also contributing to the work’s costs that will see new height barriers in place as well as barriers along the perimeter of the car park, which at present is accessible across the footway. We are making a bid to the SRA later this month."