The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Court order used to stop further work at illegal Traveller encampment
Unauthorised ground works at site ‘a slap in the face’
A council has been forced to go to court to stop further work at an illegal Mearns housing estate.
Aberdeenshire Council was granted an interim interdict after unauthorised work started on the site at North Esk Park in St Cyrus.
It is understood ground works took place at the site to prepare for the arrival of more mobile homes and the delivery of a septic tank.
One resident close to the illegal encampment said: “We get the impression that any work that was going on has been completed and it’s clear they have no intention of leaving.
“The council have bent over backwards for them against the wishes of the local community and this latest development will be a huge source of embarrassment.”
North East region Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said the move will feel like “a slap in the face” to residents, council officials and elected members.
He said: “This doesn’t look like anyone is planning to leave, at all, despite the rulings, and that is simply not acceptable.”
The homes appeared on farmland near the River North Esk in 2013, triggering opposition from residents that prompted a lengthy planning fight.
After refusing permission and instigating enforcement, Aberdeenshire councillors voted overwhelmingly to grant retrospective permission for the creation of an official halting site in 2016. But the application was called in when Sepa objected after revealing the site had flooded in 2002, 2012, 2013 and the aftermath of Storm Frank in 2015.
Scottish ministers overturned retrospective planning permission and the Travellers were given until July 31 to clear the site. Aberdeenshire councillors then agreed to extend the deadline by six months to allow time for other “positive” options to be devised.
Mearns SNP councillor Leigh Wilson said the unauthorised work has undermined any progress being made between all parties.
He said: “It is very unfortunate that unauthorised work has taken place because the council have been working closely with everyone, and any work without the appropriate consultation undermines any progress.
“I would urge everyone to work together in this interim period and I look forward to a report coming before councillors in January.”
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “We recently became aware that unauthorised work started on the site and sought, and were granted, an interim interdict to stop any further activity.
“Since the interim interdict was granted by the court we are not aware of any further work taking place.
“In terms of finding alternative sites or a new planning application being submitted to cover the development of the current site, a report will go to full council in January outlining progress to councillors.”