Aberdeenshire Council has been accused of “ripping up the rule book” by granting retrospective planning permission to a vast unauthorised Travellers site in the Mearns.
Residents who live near North Esk Park in St Cyrus have expressed their anger and frustration at the local authority after a majority decision was taken to green light the controversial site.
Work at the Traveller-built site started suddenly in September 2013 and a previous attempt for retrospective permission failed last year.
However, despite a warning that the site posed a flood risk by SEPA, councillors voted to keep the site due to the lack of Travellers sites in the Mearns.
Kath Smith, who runs Eskview Farm B&B which neighbours the site said she felt “let down” by the system.
The application will now be referred to Scottish Ministers.
- For the full story get Saturday’s edition of The Courier or try our digital edition.
