RESIDENTS' ANGER OVER TRAVELLERS
SCORES of Stonehaven residents have spoken out against the recent influx of travellers in the town.
Travellers have set up three different camps in the past fortnight - one on Baird Park Road, one next to the open air swimming pool and one on private land at Fetteresso. Residents say they have been left feeling as though "the travellers have taken over the town."
Several members of the public were present at this week's Kincardine and Mearns area committee meeting to ask the council why it appeared that travellers had "different rules" to that of residents.
One local man said: "Why do the normal laws not apply to travellers? What is the council prepared to do - is the council prepared to cede all its authority to travellers who do not belong to this town?"
Area Manager Willie Munro replied that: "The underlying principle is that the same laws apply to travellers as apply to people of the community. It is not the case of a different set of laws."
He added that policies and procedures were "rigorously" applied when camps are set up on council property however he added that it was a different situation on private land.
He continued: "As with all council policies they are kept under continuous review. There is due to be a meeting with officials from Aberdeen City and Shire, along with the police, in the near future to review the latest developments with travelling people in the area."
Stonehaven and Lower Deeside Councillor Peter Bellarby said he thought that the best way to prevent travellers would be to erect barriers to "physically prevent this type of thing from happening."
Councillor Graeme Clark agreed and said that the travellers were "sticking two fingers up to authority." He said: "These travellers do not have respect for the local population and the environment. There is a horrendous problem in Aberdeenshire.
"They are using the beach toilets that have just opened for the tourists this summer. We are a wonderful tourist town in Stonehaven, it's a wonderful destination, but what do you see when you come to the biggest attraction?
"As soon as they go, we must attempt to put a barrier up to stop it happening again. Word will get around and they know how far they can push things. We must put the message out that we are not a soft touch.
"We have got to show the public we can do something about it."
The council have announced that they are to take legal action to remove the travellers who have set up camp next to the open air swimming pool. As the Leader went to press it was unknown whether they had been successfully moved on.
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: "Court proceedings to remove the encampment next to Stonehaven Outdoor Pool have begun and the case is due to call at Court on Thursday (yesterday).
"We continue to monitor the encampment on Baird Park Road and action will be taken if the Council's Good Neighbour Code is breached."
Community Council Chairman David Fleming said that the town was now awaiting an "urgent" response from the council. He said: "The residents raised a large number of concerns at the Area Committee meeting and are now awaiting the council to act on them with a great deal of urgency.
"Meanwhile, if residents observe that some of the travellers are acting illegally and doing things that others might get arrested for, I would urge them to call the police on 0845 600 5 700, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if they wish to remain anonymous, and report the incident.
"It was claimed that the police did not know of many incidents, and that impression has got to be corrected, urgently."
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Weather for Stonehaven
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
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