North-east planners have backed controversial proposals to create a private traveller camp on the outskirts of Peterhead.
A family tabled plans last year to build a stopover site among a group of houses at Springhill, to the south of the port.
Caravans are now on the land and the family is seeking retrospective planning permission for a four-pitch campsite.
The scheme has been unpopular with neighbouring residents, but planning officers from Aberdeenshire Council have urged local councillors to give their blessing to the project.
In a report to the local authority’s Buchan area committee, which will meet in Peterhead on Tuesday, infrastructure chief Stephen Archer says: “If the application is refused, the traveller family at this site will be living with the uncertainty of whether they will be able to use the site in the short term while the decision can be appealed.”
Mr Archer says that if a refusal is upheld, the council would be forced to dismantle the site despite the fact there are currently no other established camps in the region.
“This would potentially leave the family with nowhere local to live to maintain their access to education and local services,” he adds.
A total of six objections were received by the planning team from members of the public.
Concerns were raised about increased traffic on the rural roads around Springhill, the proximity of the site to the neighbouring homes, and that the “travelling community” should only use official sites.
In a letter to the council, local resident Mark Davidson said: “I am sure there are many more suitable sites, already earmarked for traveller halting sites, that would better meet the needs of the travelling community without the negative impact that is being felt at this one.”
Due to the “regional significance” of the proposal, the final decision on whether or not to grant retrospective planning permission will be made by the full council.
