Travellers calling for hearing over flooding

PLANNING: North Esk Park pair want to make their case that risk falls ‘within acceptable levels’

Travellers behind an unauthorised site at St Cyrus have requested a hearing to settle flooding concerns at the centre of a six-year planning battle.

North Esk Park applicants William Docherty and Jim Reid want to convince the Scottish Governmentappointed reporter that the potential impacts of flooding associated with the proposed developments fall within acceptable levels.

The request was lodged with the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) in Falkirk after the pair’s retrospective planning applications were called in by Scottish ministers.

The reporter will be asked to submit a report with recommendations to ministers for their consideration.

The application will be scrutinised in view of its potential conflict with national policy on flooding, after Aberdeenshire Council approved retrospective planning applications from the Travelling community for almost 20 touring and permanent pitches on June 26. This was despite an objection from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).

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A hearing setting would allow for discussion of each issue in turn. SPOKESWOMAN FOR WILLIAM DOCHERTY AND JIM REID

It was the second time councillors had agreed to approve the site, after a similar application was given the go-ahead in 2016.

A spokeswoman for Mr Docherty and Mr Reid said: “The applicants note that the ministers have issued the directions in view of the proposed developments and the potential conflict with national policy on flooding.

“To date, in support of the applications, the applicants have provided a Flood Risk and Drainage Assessment involving hydraulic modelling undertaken by SLR Consultancy, as well as a Flood Resilience Plan prepared by the Scottish Flood Forum in consultation with the families residing at the application sites, to demonstrate that the potential impacts of flooding associated with the proposed developments fall within acceptable levels so as to allow for planning permission to be granted.

“The applicants request that a hearing session on flooding issues be arranged to allow for discussion of the relevant issues and technical evidence that has been provided by the applicants.”

The spokeswoman said the issues in dispute were confined to “relatively narrow points” connected to technical evidence and interpretations of it.

“The applicants consider that a hearing setting would allow for discussion of each issue in turn, while being mindful of the professional costs that the applicants will require to occur in order to participate effectively in such further procedure,” she added.

The DPEA has said the reporter, once appointed, will be notified of the request.

The Travellers’ site at North Esk Park, St Cyrus.