Travellers who have settled next to a prized nature reserve in Aberdeenshire have told a court they will fight on against attempts to demolish the permanent camp they have set up.
Traveller James McCallum instructed a solicitor to appear at Stonehaven Sheriff Court yesterday to call for more time to formulate his defence in the case brought by Aberdeenshire Council.
Mr McCallum denies he has flouted a legal order issued in October after he and a handful of other traveller families arrived on land close to St Cyrus National Nature Reserve.
The local authority issued the interim interdict to halt any more caravans arriving on the land – and crucially any more construction.
There are now around 20 caravans on the site by Northwater Bridge with building works now further advanced.
The case was called before Sheriff Chris Shead yesterday as the local authority moved forward in their legal bid to bring an end to the site, which caused an initial backlash in the community.
Solicitor Hayley Mitchell told Sheriff Shead that the traveller, who was not present, sought more time in order to present his case to court. He has been given 21 days to submit written answers to the sheriff, with Mr McCallum due to have his day in court on January 23.
Sheriff Shead said: “The sooner the matter is resolved, the better.”
Mr McCallum has submitted a retrospective planning application for the site but has already flouted further planning laws by building a toilet block, washroom and pump station without the necessary permission. A second application has now been lodged.
The group bought the land at Kinnaber after becoming frustrated at the lack of halting sites in the area, and told the Press and Journal they wanted to settle and register with schools, doctors and hospitals.
But they have faced criticisms from residents after they pushed forward with a wholesale development of the site, which is now fitted with tarmac, walls, garden sheds and a large fence.
Planners at Aberdeenshire Council have warned of a “long haul” in moving the planning applications through the correct process.
If the applications are refused, the travellers will have a right of an appeal.
Fewer than a dozen letters of objection from locals were eventually lodged with Aberdeenshire Council about the scheme.