Plans to create a stopover site for Gypsy Travellers cannot be discussed out of public sight, a Glenrothes councillor has warned.
Ross Vettraino said he is astonished that a Fife Council briefing outlining plans to establish a seasonal home for Travellers was initially to be held in private.
The issue is hugely controversial in Glenrothes, following years of illegal camps, particularly over the summer months.
Three possible locations for a temporary camp have been suggested: Southfield Industrial Estate, Eastfield Industrial Estate and the former Strathore Road transport depot in Thornton.
Given the public interest in such matters, however, Mr Vettraino said that holding any talks behind closed doors is unacceptable.
He said: “Five people contacted me to say that they had heard that the council planned to establish a temporary Travelling people’s site at the former transportation depot in Strathore Road. I knew nothing about any such proposal.
“I made known my view that a briefing on such a sensitive and important local issue must be held in public and, at the end of the day, the chairman of the committee agreed that that would be the case.
“The fact remains, however, if the rumours hadn’t been brought to my attention, that there may have been discussion in secret about an issue that has obviously generated huge public concern.”
Glenrothes has had illegal Traveller camps for years, with last year seeing a number of flashpoints as authorities dealt with sites.
Establishing seasonal sites is the council’s response to the ongoing problem, in the hope that Travellers would utilise these and so alleviate the concerns of residents and address the problem of cleaning any waste at the site afterwards.
The site would operate between March and November and complement three permanent facilities already up and running in Fife.
Although a location has not been decided, it is understood the council wishes to establish the site away from residential areas.
Mr Vettraino added: “To hold discussions in private is failing the community that we have a duty to serve.
“I hope that everyone who has concerns about anything that they may hear in the future will make that concern known so that it can be investigated and the public kept fully informed.”
Although the discussion was ultimately held in public, John Mills, Fife Council’s head of housing, said that because no site was being formally proposed, it was correct to request to brief councillors in private.
He added that any developments in the project would be fully communicated with members of the public and their councillors.
“A task group has been examining a range of sites against the initial criteria outlined in the executive report,” Mr Mills said.
“We wanted to update local councillors on our progress and let them know which sites we are currently assessing.
“Because we’re not at the stage of proposing a site, this wasn’t going to be included on the public agenda of the area committee.
“It’s not unusual for officers to brief members about a range of work in private. However, in this instance, at Councillor Vettraino’s request we were happy to open the meeting to the public.
“We will be consulting with the local community, local businesses and councillors before reporting back to the executive committee.”