Complaints prompt council to consider four additional Traveller sites - Aberdeenshire

From STV

Four additional Traveller sites will be considered by Aberdeen City Council after the local authority received more than a hundred complaints about their plans to build encampments in Northfield and Bridge of Don.

A proposed short-term site at Granitehill Industrial Estate and long-term site at Scotstown Road Recycling Centre had both been recommended for approval at a full council meeting on Wednesday.

However, following a raft of complaints from the public and politicians, four further locations will now be considered including sites at Blackdog, Howes Road, the former council depot at Springhill Road and the former caravan site at Hazlehead.

Both the Howes Road and Hazlehead area were previously described in the report as being "unsuitable" as a location for Travellers.

In the report, housing manager Martin Smith suggested the new sites for consideration, saying the updated report "recognises and reflects the feedback that has been highlighted – particularly in relation to the process for site identification, lack of consultation and integrity of the scoring matrix".

He added: "In relation to the Blackdog site, discussions are ongoing with the developer and Aberdeenshire Council and we would intend to bring forward proposals after the council meeting."

The short-term halting site at Granitehill Industrial Estate and the long-term Scotstown Road Recycling Centre were deemed to be "highly suitable" for their access to public transport and shops, ease of access to bins and toilet collections and cost effectiveness.

However, both sites were also said to be "highly unsuitable" in their proximity to the settled community.

The report claimed that it is "unlikely that public opinion with regard to the development of [Traveller sites] will have softened," and says that "it is possible that negative attitudes will have intensified".

Mr Smith added: "Whilst there is no statutory duty placed upon Aberdeen City Council to specifically have halting sites within the city, we have a duty to respond to the needs of Gypsies/Travellers who come into the local authority area.

"Officers are currently investigating the potential to utilise by-law legislation to prevent unauthorised encampments on sensitive areas of the city which have been subject to ongoing and persistent pressure and form part of our existing Good Neighbour Code."

Last month, the Scottish Parliament's Equal Opportunity Committee gathered at the Clinterty site to hear evidence from Travellers, politicians, the NHS and the police.

Mary Fee MSP, from the Equal Opportunites Committee, said: "I think it's really important that people realise that Gypsy Travellers that live on sites like Clinterty pay council tax and pay rent, and are entitled to a standard of service that everybody else in the community is entitled to, and they're not getting that, and that's something that we are committed to trying to overcome."

Traveller Nancy Stewart added: "The issue is getting discriminated against. Travellers are Travellers, they've got their own way of life, just the same as the settled community, so I think it's only right that they have their say."

If the four new suggested areas are approved, council officers, Grampian police and a representative from the travelling community will meet to examine the suitability of each site option and report back to the council at a meeting in May.

In a report published in January it was revealed that £20,000 was spent on the legal and clean-up costs of Travellers since April last year.

The council has handled 57 cases in the same time period, 21 of which were on council land and the further 36 on private land.

To read the full report to the council visit Aberdeen City Council online.