Travellers fears for Open

TRA VELLERS HA VE pitched camp at a north-east golf course, just weeks before it is to host one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments.

Seven caravans and a handful of vans were yesterday parked at the entrance of the RoyalA berdeen Golf Club, which will host the Scottish Open between July 10 and 13.

Some of golf ’s biggest stars will be visiting the greens of the world’s sixtholdest golf course for the Granite City’s first major European Tour event.

The tournament is expected to attract tens of thousands of fans and give local business a multi-million-pound boost.

But one senior councillor said it could take Royal A berdeen bosses weeks to get the unwanted visitors off their land.

Police confirmed they visited the site after the caravans moved in on Sunday morning but under current legislation they and A berdeen City Council are powerless to move the Travellers off private land.

Bridge of Don councillor Willie Young said it was up to Royal A berdeen to take legal action to move them on.

He said moving in on the historic course was an “absolute disgrace” and the Travellers had taken things too far.

“We are doing everything possible to attract the best tournaments and the best players to the north-east,” MrYoung added.

“What message does this send to people when you see caravans at the front door? TheTravellers are actually now laughing at us because they know we can’t do anything to stop them.”

However, Ronnie MacA skill, director of golf at Royal A berdeen, said he felt there was “no chance” the encampment could disrupt the tournament.

“We are going through the normal legal process at the moment and they should be