You'll have had your T in the Park so get out of our quarry

Locals enjoying the peace and tranquility of the Hermitage of Braid park have found their afternoon strolls rudely interrupted - by parties which go on for days.

Rave organisers have hoisted up a Jolly Roger flag, set up music decks and large amplifiers, and erected a large Chinese mask and banners in Blackford Quarry.

But the quarry squatters have received a hostile reception from locals, who have complained to the city council and police.

The ravers - who set up on Thursday - have now agreed to leave by tomorrow.

Council chiefs have also promised to make the site more difficult for ravers to access in future.

Morningside Community Council chairwoman Susan Wong said the ravers should be removed for good. "I suppose it's not very surprising that they are there again, because they've been here before. They are starting to stay for longer periods. They have to go," she said.

Rave organisers said parties had been taking place at the quarry for 12 years.

Steven Welsh, 46, who is also a stained glass worker from Glasgow and runs hemp goods retailer The Hemp House, said people who attend the events always clean up their rubbish and do not get into confrontations with passing walkers.

"We always clean up and take everything. I personally have had absolutely no trouble here," he said. "The quarry has always been a well-known spot for parties."

Yesterday afternoon, several dozen bin bags full of rubbish were lined up and ready to be loaded into a van.

However conservation group Friends of Hermitage Braid complained that the presence of the ravers and their music has spoiled the mood of the area.

Chairman Rob Elton said: "These people are living in Blackford Quarry and they have been making a lot of noise. It's been a chronic problem, the raves have been happening intermittently over the past few years.

"It's not just portable radios, they bring in vehicles with lots of equipment. Anyone walking in that area can usually hear their music."

However, he admitted that the ravers were usually amiable and sometimes cleared the rubbish away. "I don't think that they're aggressive or anything, they just arrive once a month or so over summer," he said. "Some of them clear up after themselves, but others are very messy."

Geoff Cantley, of Wilton Road, Morningside, added: "It's a source of constant concern and we watch it very closely. One or two recent raves have been quite large scale."

A council spokeswoman said: "The council's ranger service is monitoring the situation and have been liaising with the police.

"The latest reports from the rangers suggest that most of the campers have now cleared the site. But this of course does not mean they do not intend to return.

"The department is looking into putting further restrictions to prevent unauthorised vehicular access to the area in future."