A proposal to temporarily locate a halting site for Traveller families on an industrial estate in Co Mayo has angered local businessmen.
At Thursday night's monthly meeting of Castlebar Town Council, there were protests at plans to house the Travellers in the middle of Moneen estate.
Last January the Western Health Board inspected the site, where in excess of 10 caravans were parked directly in front of retail outlets, and condemned the location as unhygienic.
Mr Oliver Kelleher, president of Castlebar Chamber of Commerce, said: "It's completely unacceptable. We are trying to do business and the council wants to provide the Traveller families, who are illegally parked outside our premises, with a temporary halting site."
However, the temporary halting site may be imposed under a court order.
"We don't want to be living in the middle of an industrial estate where we're always worrying about our children and traffic," explained Mr Charlie McDonagh, currently living at Moneen.
"We want the temporary facilities put in while we're waiting to be housed."