Further delays in North Esk Park Traveller planning saga

Scottish Ministers extend application deadline

Another month of delays in the St Cyrus Traveller saga has been described as “unacceptable”.

Aberdeenshire Council approved retrospective planning applications from the Traveller community for North Esk Park at St Cyrus on June 26.

The full council’s decision was made against the advice of its own officers.

The key opponent of the pair of retrospective planning applications was the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).

It said land on which the caravans have been situated since 2013 is unsuitable due to the risk of flooding.

Because Sepa has objected to the plans, the applications were referred to Scottish Government ministers.

Ministers must inform the planning authority whether the application will be called in or cleared within 28 days – although this can be extended.

The deadline is Monday but it has now emerged Scottish Ministers want more time to decide. The first application for the nine-stance caravan park was extended yesterday morning.

That means the deadline for further consideration is now September 30.

It seems likely the other application, for the permanent 10-stance caravan park, will be extended early next week as well, also for further consideration.

North East Scottish Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said: “I have every sympathy with members of the St Cyrus community, who just want an end to this interminable process.”

A previous application, approved by councillors in 2016, was called in by the Scottish Government when Sepa objected, revealing the site had flooded in 2002, 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Ministers overturned the permission and Travellers were given until July 31 last year to clear the site.

The council then agreed to extend the deadline by six months before fresh applications were lodged.

The Travellers’ site at St Cyrus.