The travelling community in Aberdeenshire could be about to benefit from the region’s first ever traveller stopover site, after councillors agreed in principle to create one at Aikey Brae.

The site, just outside Old Deer, was approved at a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee on Thursday 10 January.

The site at Aikey Brae has been used as an unauthorised encampment by the travelling community for more than 10 years.

Its areas of hard standing, natural bunding and access to water have made it an ideal resting space for the travelling community.

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But now Aberdeenshire Council has agreed to install a water pipe, portable toilets and refuse facilities to develop the area at Aikey Brae into a 14-pitch stopover site.

The Council says it has been trying to identify areas of land for use as stopover sites for several years, and adds that the creation of these sites would meet the accommodation needs of travellers, as identified in the Craigforth Accommodation Study carried out in 2009.

The Study included consultations with travellers regarding their needs and identified a lack of stopover sites as one of their biggest concerns in Aberdeenshire.

The proposal will now be subject to wider consultation including with the Buchan Area Committee.

Plans will then be referred to the Gypsy/Traveller Sub-Committee for consideration.

A final decision will be made at a future meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee.

(IT)