Aberdeenshire Council is to discuss options for the development of a travellers' site at Aikey Brae this week.

Councillors are expected to meet on Thursday (24 April) to discuss the proposals to use the land as a stopover site for gypsy/travellers.

The land at Aikey Brae, Old Deer, has been suggested as a potential stopover site and has recently been used as an unauthorised encampment by Gypsy/Travellers working in the area, the local authority has said.

Officers are now suggesting that a planning application is submitted to use the land as a stopover site and that the area is controlled and managed by the council as an authorised site.

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It is thought that Councillors will be asked to consider three options for the development of council-owned land at Aikey Brae:

• Option A – will be to bring the land up to an acceptable standard and create 14 pitches, fencing, hard standing areas and landscaping and a fresh water supply at a cost of £315,000.

• Option B – is a reduced version of option A, retaining 14 pitches but with less landscaping, fencing and smaller pitch sizes, at a cost of £215,000.

• Option C – would involve minimal improvements, with essential works to enable safe use of a limited area of the site with the provision of eight pitches, a fresh water supply and basic fencing, at a cost of £50,000.

Previous consultation with Gypsy/Travellers in Aberdeenshire has taken place and have indicated that they would use the site at Aikey Brae, but consultation with the local community has resulted in strong objections to the proposals.

(JP/MH)