A controversial Traveller site has made its most “outrageous” addition to date as residents get set to mark the encampment’s first anniversary in the Mearns.
The move has been branded “a step too far” by St Cyrus locals.
A long-running court case to determine the future of the unapproved Travellers’ settlement on the Angus/Mearns border is due to resume next week.
Civil proceedings between Aberdeenshire Council and Traveller James McCallum and others over an alleged breach of a court interdict are to begin on Monday at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
But locals were shocked yesterday morning as two lorries deposited a house-sized static caravan at “New Esk” as it has been dubbed by the Travellers.
This has exacerbated local tensions that the site, near the beautiful St Cyrus Nature Reserve, continues to grow despite no sign of planning permission.
A St Cyrus resident, who asked not to be named due to fear of reprisals, said the community is “fed up” of waiting for resolution.
“It’s been a year now and no one has done anything to move these people on,” he said.
“Not only that, but the campsite has been improved on to such an extent it looks nicer than some static caravan holidays I’ve been on.
“This thing must cost tens of thousands of pounds and it’s just outrageous. I’ve seen estates that have had less spent on them.”
The setback is the latest in many delays for the court proceedings which were started by Aberdeenshire Council last year.
Mr McCallum and a number of other Travelling families moved on to a patch of private land near the nature reserve at the end of September last year and began construction work to turn the site into a permanent caravan park.
The work was carried out without planning permission from the local authority and an enforcement notice was served to stop the development.
A retrospective application for planning permission was submitted and work continued and the council obtained an interim interdict from Stonehaven Sheriff Court to try to stop construction.
The council alleged further work was carried out and served a breach of interdict notice against Mr McCallum, who, according to the retrospective planning application for the site signed in his name, is the owner of the land.
Mr McCallum denies the breach and disputes he is the owner of the land but evidence in the long-running dispute has never been led due to the adjournments, rearranged dates and cancellations.
The case moved to Aberdeen while the Travellers remain on the land without permission and with no planning applications for consent before the council.
Aberdeenshire Council were approached for a reaction but did not comment.