People sleeping in vans along Falmouth seafront have denied residents' accusations that they make a mess and dump human waste as the perennial row over Divers' car park resurfaces.

Locals allege those staying on Pendennis Point and along Cliff Road had been taking up parking spaces and creating a mess, but the van occupiers have said they actually clean up rubbish left by others.

On Monday morning, Falmouth business owner and former councillor Charlie Choak said he saw nine vans and mobile homes parked at the car park on the side of Pendennis point, and another four along the seafront.

He said: "I've been ringing the council for... months. They said it's quite legal to park there, but where are they dumping their waste - their toilet waste? I saw a man do it today, emptied a bucket of sh*t, of sewerage, just chucking it over the fence."

And Bob O'Shea, from Falmouth Bay Residents’ Association, told the Packet there is "considerable concern" about the waste, an about a "seemingly abandoned red van on the upper part of Pendennis Point," as well as parking spaces being taken up.

He said: "This parking area, suitable for about a dozen cars who typically stop to admire the view and maybe have a picnic on the bank opposite has been taken over, by a further number of vans which park for very long periods of time."

He added: "We are aware that the appropriate authorities are now involved to look into at what is actually happening. FBRA has received a growing number of complaints from residents."

However David Holden, who uses his van for work and also sleeps in it at the car park, said accommodation in area was too expensive and for many of the people there it was a choice between having a vehicle or having a home.

He said: "People here struggle to get accommodation. We're never able to get anything from the council, and private renting is an absolute fortune. People haven't got a choice really, they're forced into doing what they have to to survive."

He also said there was no need to dump waste as there are toilets at Castle and Gyllyngvase beaches to dispose of everything.

He said: "I've never seen anyone chuck waste over the edge when I've been here, all the vans seem to be responsible. And the council come and empty the bins every morning."

He also pointed out people "don't complain about the boy racers.

"A lot of the waste stuff is to do with the young lads: they don't care, they don't respect. People in the vans have more respect for the place than people just passing by. A lot of them are environmentalists, obsessed with green living."

Another van owner, who did not wish to be named but said he worked locally, said there was a "small minority" being "very vociferous" about people sleeping at the car park, but there would be "bundles and bundles" of litter if they didn't.

He said: "We pick up rubbish, we live responsibly. The councillor that's lurking around here at night would do better to deal with the rat problem than he would snooping on people.

"There's more dumping from people driving around here at night at 60mph than there is from us... and we pick it up."

He added: "People wave to us, people come and chat to us. There's a small minority who... think people are living it large, lying around. getting something for nothing, when in actual fact a lot of people her are working, there's students here.

"We all contribute to the local economy, we can't all afford to live here."

Another occupant said most people sleeping in vans moved relatively often to different sites in the area, to avoid hogging particular spaces or appearing a nuisance in any one place

She said the only reason van owners were "forced into lay-bys" was because the council would not provide sites for them pitch up.

She added: "The council have an obligation to look after people."

Cornwall Council said there are currently no restrictions for the area if vehicles are taxed, roadworthy and not causing an obstruction or public nuisance.

A spokesperson added: "However subject to successful public/statutory consultation the proposal is to implement a no waiting from midnight-6am in the layby in due course as part of the Town Parking Review for Falmouth and Penryn."

Police also pointed out that as no laws were being broken, they were powerless to do anything about the vans and their occupants.