Community resigned to long fight against Crook of Devon Moss Travellers' site - Kinross-shire

From the Courier

Plans have been put before Perth and Kinross Council for Crook of Devon Moss in Kinross-shire and are currently pending consideration by planners.

The former village tip has lain unused for some time but it is understood it has now been purchased by a member of the Travelling community.

In a supporting statement for the planning bid, the applicants comment that permission would enable five households to "lock into local health, education and community services" and develop, from a "discrete distance", positive relationships with the settled community.

They also express the belief that there is a shortfall in local pitches for gypsy/Traveller communities, despite the presence nearby of facilities at Gairneybridge and the recently extended Greenacres.

The planning application for the formation of five permanent Gypsy/Traveller pitches is described as "partly in retrospect" and it has been clear to the community that construction has already begun.

A number of caravans are already on the site, including one semi-permanent chalet-style caravan and surfaces have already been put in place to act as stances.

That the work has begun before the granting of planning permission has left the surrounding community deeply concerned and objections to the application have already been submitted to Perth and Kinross Council.

Fossoway and District Community Council felt moved to hold a special meeting with the plan the sole issue for discussion. It was well attended by local residents, together with councillors Michael Barnacle, Willie Robertson and Kathleen Baird.

In the past the proliferation of the sites in and around Kinross-shire has been the cause of some disquiet, with Mr Barnacle describing the process as "expansion by stealth".

Community council treasurer Kevin Borthwick told The Courier there is a fear the development will take shape no matter what decision Perth and Kinross takes.

"A planning application has been lodged with the local authority but it is quite clear that the Travelling community is not waiting for that to be decided upon. Unlike everyone else who goes through the planning process, they have simply started with a number of caravans on the site, what looks like a chalet and hard-core to make stances.

"Even if the council decides against this plan the applicants will have the right of appeal and that process will likely drag on for some time, especially if the matter is pursued as far as the Scottish Government."

The main reason for objection put forward by the community council is that there is no need for the site. With facilities already in place at Greenacres and Gairneybridge and a third council facility at Abernethy it believes more would be excessive.

Given the large number of objections to the plan, the application is expected to go before a full meeting of the council this year.