A decision to call in Aberdeenshire Council’s approval for the controversial North Esk Park Travellers’ site near St Cyrus must lead to a full public inquiry, an MSP has said.
In the eagerly awaited Scottish Government decision, councillors have been told the development approval may conflict with national flooding policy.
In April, Aberdeenshire councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of granting permission for North Esk Park as an official halting and touring site, lifting the threat of eviction from families there.
Council officials had recommended refusal of the site, close to the internationally-recognised St Cyrus nature reserve and on a flood plain which opponents said could put families there at risk.
But the North Esk Park development was approved by 41 votes to 25 at a full meeting of the authority after supporters said Aberdeenshire had failed to provide adequate sites for the Gypsy/Traveller community over many years.
Councillors have now been told that the application is being called in by Scottish Ministers over concerns it breaches national flood policy.
A reporter will be appointed in the case and although the matter could be considered through a hearing or written submissions, north east Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone is demanding a full public inquiry.
He said: “”Although on one hand I welcome the fact that this has been called in for further scrutiny, I believe that to do so solely on the basis of the flooding issue is deeply flawed.
“The fact is that in this case, the planning system has not just been ignored, it has been completely trashed, and the democratic process has appallingly colluded in this, arguably because of previous failures to provide halting sites.
“Of course the flooding issue is a substantial problem, but this case throws the spotlight on much wider concerns, not least the fact that it sends out the message that people can buy a field, build a village on it without any kind of authority, and then simply wait for the planning process to exhaust itself.”
“A review of written submissions is not enough to fully examine this case, it really needs a public local inquiry, because this case has significant national implications.
“It is not acceptable for the Scottish Government to take the easy option because the alternative would be too costly.”
