COUNCILLORS have rejected proposals to limit the size of travellers’ camps and the length of time they can stay on any one site.
Members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee were asked for their views on plans to limit traveller camp sizes to six caravans, staying no longer than six weeks.
They decided to recommend that no limits should be placed on the groups, but that council rules should be strictly enforced.
The report will be circulated around all six local authority area committees before a final decision is made by the policy and resources committee.
Environmental health specialist officer David Cooper said restrictions could hinder the travellers’ way of life and council attempts to improve the education of the families’ children.
In some cases, it could also make it more difficult to enforce eviction notices, he said.
“We would prefer a more flexible approach,” Mr Cooper said. “From a practical point of view, how do you enforce this?
“There is just not enough accommodation for travellers in the north-east. The council would like to develop a network of transit sites, smaller sites taking six to eight caravans.”
Stonehaven councillor Wendy Agnew wanted strong action to be taken against any littering and vandalism. “People resent their money being wasted on cleaning services and toilet facilities,” she said.
“I would say six weeks is far too long. Three weeks is enough. We have to be stronger. We are far too weak.”
Fellow councillor George Carr agreed that stronger action needed to be taken to enforce the rules.
“We need to recognise it’s having an impact on the area,” he said.
“People are concerned we have the code of conduct, but it’s not being enforced. Over the past year or two it’s got beyond a joke.
“People are starting to complain more to us as councillors.”
Mr Cooper warned that restrictions would be difficult to enforce on the travelling community.
He cited the example of an encampment on the A92 Stonehaven-Inverbervie road, near Catterline, that moved from one layby to another a few hundred yards down the road when served an eviction notice.