St Cyrus part of ‘out of control’ planning mess

Wait for ruling on Travellers’ site an example of ‘clearly unacceptable’ appeals delay

The St Cyrus Travellers’ saga has been highlighted as an example of Scotland’s planning appeal system being “out of control”.

The Courier can reveal the length of time taken to settle planning appeals across the country is increasing despite there being fewer cases. Figures released under freedom of information show there were 578 cases heard by Scottish Government-appointed reporters in 2015/16, which dropped to 380 in 2016/17.

But the average number of weeks taken to issue a decision jumped from 15 to 17 for solo appeals and 20 to 45 for linked appeals. The appeal over the unauthorised Travellers’ site at North Esk Park is outstanding – seven months after the reporter made his site visit.

North East Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said: “The situation across Scotland is getting out of control. For people in St Cyrus... it’s been more than seven months since the reporter visited – that is clearly unacceptable.”

The Scottish Government has been accused of letting St Cyrus residents enter a seventh month in limbo as planning appeal times get longer.

Figures released under freedom of information found there were 578 cases heard by Scottish Governmentappointed reporters in 2015/16, which dropped to 380 in 2016/17.

However, the average weeks taken to issue a decision jumped from 15 to 17 for solo appeals and from 20 to 45 for linked appeals — the highest average rates in five years.

Among those is the appeal into the unauthorised Travellers’ site in St Cyrus which remains outstanding — seven months after the Scottish Governmentappointed reporter made his site visit.

North-East Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said: “These figures show that the length of time it is taking to settle appeals is increasing, despite the fact there have been fewer cases in the last year.

“The process is already very long and local residents are simply left in limbo for months on end awaiting decisions.

“For people in St Cyrus, for example, it has been more than seven months since the reporter visited. That is clearly unacceptable.

“I have said before that we need to have a serious look at the current system and consider what changes can be made to speed up the process. We also need to protect the interests of those affected.”

North Esk Park has substantially expanded since the first temporary homes appeared in September 2013 and Aberdeenshire councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of permission for an official halting and touring site.

The owners applied for retrospective permission, which was approved due to a lack of other sites for Travellers.

However, the application was called in after Sepa confirmed the site had flooded three times over 11 years.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Each case has its own complexities and some can take considerably longer than others.

“Ministers have ensured that the department has been able to recruit three new reporters to meet the demand.”

The spokesman added that it is anticipated a report on the St Cyrus planning application “will be submitted to ministers this month”.

He said: “It would be inappropriate to comment further on the merits of the application until ministers have reached a decision.”

We need to have a serious look at the current system and consider what changes can be made