Rugby club's £60k plans in doubt after 40 caravans camp on pitch - Aberdeenshire

From STV

An Aberdeen rugby club's £60,000 refurbishment plans have been thrown into doubt after Travellers with around 40 caravans set up camp on their playing pitches.

The illegal encampment arrived over night on Thursday at Aberdeen Wanderers' rugby field next to Hazlehead Park.

The Groats Road club has been fundraising for five years to install a pitch drainage system, with work due to commence on Monday.

But a club spokesman said the arrival of the Travellers could delay the plans by up to a month and could cost them thousands of pounds in losses.

Simon Nixon, president of Aberdeen Wanderers, said: "We are so disappointed that the Travellers have decided to move in - we are completely shocked by the situation right now.

"These people have no respect for property and have a blatant disregard for the people who use the park and the pitch.

"The pitch flooding has caused many problems for us over the years and we have all be really excited about the prospect of it finally getting fixed.

"We are hugely concerned about the timing, the biggest issue for us is the delay. The implications for our planned renovations being unable to go ahead could be catastrophic."

The club is due to hold a meeting with contractors on Friday to asses the impact and estimate the losses that will be incurred.

SportScotland confirmed that they would be upholding the £25,000 CashBack for Communities award granted to the club for the drainage system, despite the delay jeopardising the deadline date.

Simon added: "We expected some people may turn up as we are an open area of land but the amount of Travellers who are here, and the havoc that has already been created, is very worrying.

"Also, a few years ago, Travellers pitched up here and we were broken into several times, property was stolen and they trashed the entire place. It was awful.

"We had our final training session planned at the weekend for the youth team. They are always something that we look forward to but we have had to cancel it, which has brought an unceremonious end to the season."

Local residents have already lodged complains after it was claimed that 55 Travellers and their dogs were behaving in an antisocial and ‘disorderly’ manner.

Hazlehead councillor Martin Greig said: "The activities of the Travellers and their dogs is unacceptable. I have contacted the police and council to evict them. It is deeply unfair that enjoyment of this leisure space is being compromised like this.

"Local people are completely fed up of these intrusions into the area of the park. The green spaces are for everyone to enjoy and it's disgraceful to try and set up home in a playing field. This selfish action prevents legitimate enjoyment of the sports ground. This is also intimidating and threatening.

"The club are a special case which is why the council are taking up the cause. The gypsy liaison officer is speaking to the Travellers to try to resolve the situation quickly. The eviction process has been launched and we hope it will take one week."

It is understood that Aberdeen City Council's Gypsy Liaison officer has explained the rugby club's situation to the group and they are refusing to move. Court action to have them removed will begin on Monday.

In March, Hazlehead was ditched as a possible halting site by Aberdeen City Council as it was deemed “inappropriate” due to the regeneration investments that had been made.

At a full council meeting in May, councillors agreed on a draft bylaw that was designed to help the local authority and the police by making illegal camping a criminal offence