The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Objectors given hope over Travellers’ site
New housing minister says Scots ministers will decide whether to ‘call-in’ application for development
People in St Cyrus who objected to the controversial Travellers’ site in the village will have another chance to give their views about the development.
The vast camp, which was built in September 2013 without planning permission, was granted retrospective consent by Aberdeenshire Council in April by 41 votes to 24.
The majority decision was described as “utterly disgraceful” by North East MSP Alex Johnstone who wrote to the minister for local government and housing about the issue.
He has urged the Scottish Government to consider the application as soon as possible.
The North East MSP has now received a reply from the new housing minister, Kevin Stewart, who confirmed that Scottish ministers will decide whether to ‘call-in’ the application.
Mr Stewart wrote: “The decision is to be referred to the Scottish ministers to consider whether the application raises any issues of national significance or other matters that would require ministers to ‘call-in’ the application for determination or alternatively refer the application back to the planning authority for their determination.
“You will appreciate that I cannot therefore comment on the planning authority decision or the merits of the case.”
Mr Stewart said interested parties would have another opportunity to make comments about the application if it is called-in. He added that if ministers then also approved the site then members of the public could seek a judicial review of the decision.
He said: “When a person considers the planning authority have acted incorrectly in their handling of the case, then it is open to them to make a formal complaint to the planning authority and subsequently, should the matter not be resolved satisfactorily, to take the complaint to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.”
The occupants of the site in St Cyrus had faced eviction before Aberdeenshire Council’s surprise decision to grant retrospective planning permission.
More than 40 people objected to the plans as well as the council’s own flooding and coast protection team which said permitting the site would “result in significant risk to lives and property”.
Mr Johnstone said he welcomed the fact that objectors would have another opportunity to make representations, adding that the situation had “dragged on far too long already”.
He noted that if members of the public asked for a judicial review, this may result in legal costs.
He said: “It can only add insult to injury that objectors might also face substantial legal costs if they are obliged to pursue a judicial review in this case, and Scottish Government ministers really need to step up and deal with this.”
“The decision is to be referred to the Scottish ministers to consider whether the application raises any issues ...
HOUSING MINISTER KEVIN STEWART MSP