COUNCIL chiefs are poised to remove vanlifer’s vehicles from a Newquay car park after they refused to leave despite being served with eviction notices.

Cornwall Council says it will continue with the legal process to evict the people who have been living in their vehicles at Towan Headland car park.

Officers working on behalf of the council served notice to the occupants of 31 vans at the car park to vacate the site by Friday, July 17 at 4pm but a “small number remain.”

The council has taken action following a number of residents complaining vanlifers annually turn the car park into a campsite during the summer with loud music playing into the early hours.

There have been complaints people living in their vehicles have taken up parking spaces without paying for weeks on end after covering their registration plates.

Newquay Town Council closed the Towan Headland public toilets following reports of antisocial behaviour, which has led to human waste being left in the car park.

Residents have also reported they feel intimidated about visiting the beauty spot due to aggressive behaviour of some of the people living in their vehicles there. Vanlifers have reported they too have faced harassment and “antisocial activities” from people opposed to them being there.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “Despite serving notice on the occupants to leave, a small number remain and so we will continue with the legal process to have these vehicles removed from the car park.

“Many businesses across Cornwall offer overnight camping and provide waste and water facilities.

Council car parks do not have the infrastructure in place to operate as campsites. “

Mayor Cllr Drew Creek has called for Cornwall Council to create a ‘meanwhile site’ in Newquay for vanlifers, which provide temporary pitches on council-owned land for vehicle dwellers, offering a “safer, managed space” with basic facilities including water, sewage and rubbish as an alternative to roadside living. He has also reiterated his offer of Newquay Town Council taking over the management of Towan Headland car park to help resolve the vanlifer issues there.

A Cornwall Council spokesperson said: “We would welcome an opportunity to discuss Newquay Town Council’s suggestions for resolving the issues at this site.”