A travellers’ figurehead has mounted a defiant stance over an illegal development in the Mearns.
James McCallum, who describes himself as a Romany Gypsy, has admitted carrying out work to create a Travellers’ site at Nether Warburton, near St Cyrus, without planning permission.
The father-of-three, who said he was spokesman for the Scottish Gypsy travelling people, defended his actions by saying Aberdeenshire Council did not provide him and 10 other families with a suitable site.
Carrying out the work on the land, which is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and is adjacent to the St Cyrus National Nature Reserve, has enraged residents.
The Courier revealed last week that a temporary stop notice was issued by Aberdeenshire Council after reports of bulldozers and diggers preparing the ground.
Mr McCallum said: “We have taken the initiative here and we are not moving unless the council can come up with a site similar in size to this one.”
He submitted a planning application to Aberdeenshire Council last week, seeking to change the land use from a paddock to a “caravan site to provide 10 permanent residential pitches for Travellers”.
He bought the piece of ground with other Travellers four weeks ago.
Mr McCallum said neighbours had not voiced their concerns to him.
He continued: “I have never even spoken to any of them. They are intimidated by the caravans and the fact we are Gypsies they are just being racist.
“We intend for the site to be enclosed with electric gates and antique-style street lighting.
“People would not be complaining if we were building bungalows on this land. Every family here knows there will be a fight.
“Our children need to get into schools, we need access to doctors and to dentists. If Aberdeenshire Council came up with another site for us, we would willingly move.”
Kath and Garry Smith, who own the Eskview Farm B&B next to the site, claim their life has been made a misery since the work started and are faced with a mound of earth outside their windows.
Mr Smith said: “I just can’t believe that they can just arrive and start all this work without permission. It is just intimidation.
“Everyone round here is petrified to speak up. They are hoping that no one will object to the application.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said their inspections identified the location may present several issues affecting drainage and flooding.
Kinnaber fishery owner Martin Stansfeld owns a piece of land bordering the proposed development, which he said the Travellers had expressed interest in buying.
He said: “When they asked to acquire my adjacent triangular field, they described their development as an equestrian centre, or a horse stable development. This was upmarket, so I expressed interest.
“I have still not seen their application so I do not need yet to consider their offer for my adjacent ground.
“Until I get some indication from the council that they will not just simply roll over for them, blissfully and politically correctly, I won’t be.
“It took me 10 years to erect a fishing lodge and be futzed around by the authorities and yet these admirable people went in there like hard working Trojans and in 48 hours over a single weekend will probably get away with their so-called equestrian centre.”
Aberdeenshire Council said it was continuing to monitor the site.