Plans for a controversial north-east traveller’s site could take a huge step forward next week as the local authority looks to create official stop-off sites.
Aberdeenshire Council officers are calling for local members to back “immediate site provision” as they move to launch a planning application for a stopover site at Aikey Brae, near Old Deer.
The local authority’s gypsy-traveller sub-committee will be asked to back phase one of the proposals “with immediate effect” when they meet on Wednesday.
Councillors are also being asked to support a further report calling for private provision, such as the recently approved North Esk Park near St Cyrus, to be taken into account when considering the issue.
A report going before members also asks the committee to “not defer developing suitable areas of council land” into encampments whilst investigations into others elsewhere are ongoing.
If backed, Aikey Brae would cost £351,342.
The council has identified four further locations for development into traveller’s sites in Ellon, Blackdog, Inverurie and Chapelton, adding that “progress” is being made on all of them.
Proposals to formally open Aikey Brae to travellers were announced in 2014, but a backlash from locals forced the council to shelf the plans.
Last night Central Buchan councillor Jim Ingram, said: “The community feeling hasn’t changed from the concerns that were expressed a year and two years ago when it was last being considered by the community.
“We had a couple of meetings, one in Old Deer attended by over 100 people where 99% were against the development.
“There was a following one in Mintlaw, 60 attended, and again it came out with the same percentage. The feeling I get is the public mood hasn’t moved on at all.”
The report adds: “The Aberdeenshire site strategy focuses on the provision of council sites, however the provision of private sites should also be considered when meeting the accommodation needs of those from the travelling community within to reside in and travel through Aberdeenshire.
“High profile unauthorised encampments such as that alongside Ellon Academy in may 2016 highlights the real and pressing need for increased site provision in North Aberdeenshire.”
It adds North Esk Park – finally granted planning permission three years after being set up without authorisation – would “go towards meeting the accommodation needs” of travellers.
A total of 42 unauthorised encampments sprung up in Aberdeenshire last year.
