North-east councillors are finally poised to approve plans to create a private gypsy-traveller camp on the outskirts of Peterhead.
Aberdeenshire Council planners have already endorsed the proposals to build a stopover site among a group of cottages at Springhill, south of the port.
The scheme – which was tabled by a family last year – is now likely to receive the backing of the Buchan area committee after councillors initially deferred a decision in March.
Local members have visited the site and seen that caravans are already on the land. The family is seeking retrospective planning permission for the four-pitch campsite.
In his report to local councillors, Aberdeenshire’s infrastructure boss Stephen Archer said: “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 added that the council could be forced to dismantle the site despite the fact there are currently no other established camps in the region.
He said: “This would potentially leave the family with nowhere local to live and maintain their access to education and local services.”
The issue of travellers camps has proved contentious and the local authority is currently developing plans to build at least one permanent site in the region.
But, in the meantime, the Springhill scheme has proved unpopular with neighbouring residents and a total of six objections were received by the planning team.
These raised concerns about the proximity of the pitches to nearby homes and the increased traffic on the rural roads in the area.
An objection was also raised that the “travelling community” should only use official sites.
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.
