Treatment of travellers in the Mearns is set to come under the spotlight, as part of an Aberdeenshire Council policy review.
Residents in Stonehaven called for action last year after a group set up camp beside the town’s outdoor swimming pool, causing attendance figures to plummet.
The public now have until February 18 to make suggestions for improvement on how the local authority could better deal with such situations.
Since 2008, there have been 14 actions of eviction served against travelling groups, including the encampment in Stonehaven last summer.
A revised policy document is now circulating the council’s area committees for consultation and was viewed by councillors in Formartine yesterday.
The council claims the new guidelines are clearer and better set out the roles of the authority in dealing with unauthorised sites in an “appropriate, balanced and effective manner.”
Travellers’ needs and right to a nomadic way of life must be taken into consideration and weighed up against any disruption to residents and the environment.
The policy and resources committee will meet in April, at which time councillors will consider comments made by Mearns residents.
Action will continue to be taken against illegal campers causing damage to private property or dumping rubbish, but unless an individual can be identified as a fly-tipper it will still be difficult to bring any criminal proceedings.
Council representatives attended the Scottish minister for housing’s working party last week to discuss solutions to improving relations between settled communities and travellers.
Mearns landowners may be asked to consider leasing or selling land to the authority to form transit sites where a camp can be set up.Identifying areasSeveral potential areas have already been identified through Aberdeenshire Council’s draft local development plan.
A service level agreement with the Grampian Racial Equality Council has been established dealing with health, education and welfare issues affecting camps.
Officers regularly visit sites to assess a group’s compliance with the good neighbour code and will take immediate eviction action if a serious breach takes place on council land.
Travellers have a responsibility to ensure they do not adversely affect the environment and nearby communities, and face eviction if they do.
There is no specific legislation on the management of unauthorised encampments, but trespass, roads management or public order laws can be used.
Grampian Police work with the local authority on formulating such policies and decide what enforcement powers to use.
Chairman of Aberdeenshire’s gypsy/traveller working group Councillor Jim Gifford said he was pleased at the speed of work taking place.
He said, “All actions taking place in 2011 from a response to the Scottish Government’s petitions committee, meetings with the minister’s working party and the council’s consultation will result in a review of procedures and guidance and we will act quickly to have policies in place as quickly as possible.
“I also welcome the support from the national working group as we move towards improved community relations between gypsy/travellers and the settled communities in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.”
Mr Gifford added that Scottish Government funding may be available to assist with finding short-term solutions to the lack of temporary halting sites.
He said, “I encourage people to comment on the revised policy and work with us to come up with solutions that create harmony in our communities.”