The row over controversial council plans to set up travellers camps took a fresh twist last night as it emerged one family have applied to build their own.
The local authority is in the early stages of a consultation on proposals for four sites across the region which could become permanent stopover areas for travelling people.
But when the Collins family became tired of waiting for the process to move forward, they decided to buy a plot of land in the north-east countryside and design a private camp.
The site at Springhill, west of Peterhead, is bordered by three homes and an official application for a four-pitch travellers camp has now been lodged.
The move has been praised by a senior councillor, who said a minority stereotyped by some as “trouble” were actually saving the public money.
Councillor Allan Hendry, chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s traveller committee, backed the Collins family’s application.
He said: “I wish them all the best because they definitely need it.
“If they can do it themselves and assist the local authority in these times of austerity that’s a bonus for us as well. It saves us public money.
“We should do our best to accommodate the travellers who have an instinct to travel the country as they do.”
Mr Hendry, who stressed he was not “pointing the finger” at anyone, said travellers in the north-east faced discrimination and unfair allegations of criminality.
“You may find that this attracts objections,” he added.
The gypsy-traveller committee is currently considering four sites across the north-east as potential stopover sites.
They are at Blackdog, Chapelton, Ellon and Thainstone.
Mr Hendry said the process was at the very earliest stage and that several rounds of public consultation would be held before a decision was made.
“People seem to think that we’ve already made this decision,” he said.
“I can assure you 100% that is not the case. Nothing will be decided upon until the full consultation process is complete. That could take anything up until early next year.”
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Thomas Collins, property consultant Alan Seath said all formal procedures were being followed.
He said: “It’s a project in motion really and we’re continuing to discuss with the council.
“The Collins family were travelling, as they normally do, and were looking for a site to call their base.
“The unfortunate thing we have with Aberdeenshire Council is that despite their valiant efforts over the years, there have been no sites found.”
The Collins’s proposal is also a part-retrospective application because there are already five caravans on the site at Springhill Cottages.
The family – who are seeking permission for four caravan pitches, eight parking spaces, an internal access road and bordering fences – purchased the 13,000sq ft site in June.
If councillors reject the scheme, Mr Collins has said he is willing to accept a one-year temporary permission so he can demonstrate the site can be a success.
Mr Seath – who met council officials on site this week – said: “Gypsy travellers throughout Aberdeenshire and elsewhere in Scotland have found it increasingly difficult to find somewhere to call home.
“With certain types of developments you will have objectors who have a ‘not in my back yard’ attitude.
“I have personally spoken to the neighbours there and they can express their opinions through the planning process.”
He added that the Collins would act as “good neighbours”.
One local said the travellers already on the site were “noisy” but not troublesome.
The planning application for the proposed site at Springhill is open for comment until Monday, August 17.