The establishment of “stopover sites” for Gypsy Travellers in Fife has been cautiously welcomed as the best way to “control the situation”.
There was controversy last week as the council’s housing and communities committee approved the plan.
Three sites across Fife were approved for use by Travellers at Crail, Cardenden and Cairneyhill.
Council officials concede the issue is contentious but pledged to monitor the sites closely and to liaise with locals.
They warned that failure to establish so-called stopover sites could have led to the council being prevented from seeking eviction orders from the courts to remove Gypsy Travellers from unauthorised encampments.
East Neuk and landward councillor Donald Macgregor is aware of the controversy in Crail but believes the solution represented the best option for both the council and residents.
“There was considerable opposition to having a temporary stopover site,” he acknowledged. “However, the three local councillors and the community council felt that, on balance, it was better to try to control the situation by defining an area close to the road.”
Mr Macgregor pointed out that the decision taken last week had effectively put the council in control of the situation.
“Installation of a new barrier will prevent caravans encroaching further down toward the picnic area and coastal path.
“There will also be a local liaison committee to examine progress and there will be a review at the end of the first season of operation.”
While existing legislation does not allow police to move Travellers on, once the council has provided a network of stopover sites officers will be able to take action against any illegal settlements.
The council plans to spend £15,000 on the three new sites. It is envisaged up to eight stopover sites across the region could eventually be established.
Traveller working group chairwoman councillor Alice McGarry said a lot of hard work had gone into the plans sometimes in the face of robust criticism.
“There has been a lot of abuse hurled round at members and officers,” she said. “It has not been an easy passage and we are still not there. However, we do agree we need to move forward.”
In Crail, the former waste management area at Kilminning has been identified, although the council was asked to ensure a barrier was put in place to prevent access to the rest of the adjacent picnic area.
In Cairneyhill discussions are ongoing with a landowner who has indicated he is willing to lease an area of his ground to the council.
Meanwhile, a site at Pitcairn has been chosen for Cardenden, although it has been recognised there may be problems with flooding. Road safety concerns have also been raised.
The three sites were agreed last week despite a bid by Labour councillors to defer a decision until committee members had been given a chance to visit the sites themselves.
It is hoped the stopover sites, which could be up and running as early as next year, will ultimately reduce the number of unofficial camps that spring up in Fife each year.
The authority’s senior housing manager John Mills has pledged that consultation with local groups will continue and said that liaison groups would be established in a bid to investigate any issues.