CONSULTATION is to be launched into three potential locations for travellers’ halting sites in north Aberdeen.
Councillors agreed to move forward with two possible travellers’ campsites in the Bridge of Don and another in Newhills, at yesterday’s north area committee meeting.
A fourth option in Persley was dropped by the committee because it would require the £600,000 purchase of a derelict five-bedroom house.
Last year, councillors agreed to set up two temporary halting sites in the north of the city and two in the south, in the hope of ending illegal encampments in Aberdeen.
Kingswells Park and Ride has already been identified as one option for the north, with a council-owned site at Redmyres Farm, Newhills, now a possible alternative.
Two sites at Bridge of Don – a council-owned recycling facility at Scotstown Moor, and a privately-owned former brick factory at Shielhill – are now under consideration for the other slot.
The fourth option of a former transport yard at South View, including the £600,000 derelict house, will not be progressed because of the city council’s precarious financial position.
Deputy SNP group leader Mark McDonald moved the motion to carry out consultation on the three other sites at yesterday’s meeting, and received unanimous backing.
“In the current financial climate we can’t afford to be considering spending £600,000 on a house,” he said later.
“However, in general the principle of establishing halting sites is one that needs to be progressed and I’m glad the committee agreed to go out to consultation on the other three sites.
“I hope we can find a resolution in the very near future.”
Tomorrow’s south area committee meeting will consider which of five possible locations to progress in the south of the city.
Three are adjacent to council-owned agricultural scrubland at Lochinch, near Loirston Loch, and two are nearby sites at the old A92 road.