“WE’LL be gone by the start of next week.” That was the pledge from travellers who have set up camp on a field off Shipton Road in York.

Twenty or more caravans moved on to the privately-owned field, near Clifton Park, a few days ago.

City council street environment officers Michelle Watling and Iain Dunn admitted there had been a number of complaints about them from locals: but because the caravans were on private land, there was little they could do to move them on.

But when The Press visited the site yesterday, travellers were keen to give assurances they would soon be leaving.

“Sunday or Monday this field will be empty,” said one man, who didn’t want to be named.

He said he liked to come to York every year. “But only for a week.”

Many of the group would be moving on to the Pickering traction engine rally and steam fair, another traveller said, while others would be heading south.

They said many of them had permanent homes or caravans elsewhere in the country, but that travelling was part of their way of life.

“It’s our culture,” said one woman.

She claimed travellers regularly suffered harassment “for no good reason at all.”

But provided the council provided them with rubbish bags, they would leave their rubbish neatly piled when they left, she said.

Mr Dunn, who visited the site earlier in the week to assess how many travellers were there, said they were a nuisance to locals.

“We certainly don’t intend to harass them, but we must respond to issues when raised by residents,” he said.

Mr Dunn said the council was keen to offer assistance on health and education needs, and would provide litter bags.

“But at the end of the day, they are illegally encamped.”

If the travellers were on council land, they would be able to issue a notice requiring them to move, Mr Dunn said.

“But because they are not, there is only so much we can do.”

Joe Watt, ward councillor for the area, said he would welcome the early departure of the travellers.

However, he said: “The travellers are a complex issue and a degree of understanding is required if we are to make progress. Hostility is not a solution to such situations.”