Local residents have been “left in limbo” on the future of a north-east traveller site which was established without permission four years ago.
The outcome of a Scottish Government call-in on North Esk Park, near St Cyrus, has still not emerged more than four months after a site inspection was carried out by a senior Holyrood planner.
The site was established without planning permission in 2013, but was retrospectively approved as an official halting and touring site by a meeting of Aberdeenshire Council last year.
However following the decision, Scottish ministers decided they would have the final say on the application due to an outstanding objection from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) on flooding grounds.
Locals had expected the Scottish Government reporter’s findings on the application to be published in January.
And last night north-east MSP, Liam Kerr, said the situation had “dragged on far too long”.
The Conservative added: “It is now four months since the Scottish Government-appointed reporter visited the St Cyrus site and about ten weeks since the findings were expected to be published.
“I wrote to the reporter seeking a firm date for publication, as local residents have simply been left in limbo.
“This has dragged on far too long, and it is simply not acceptable. I know from the correspondence that I regularly receive that it has caused a great deal of concern and uncertainty in the community.
“The longer it drags on, the more the public will feel that their concerns are not being listened to or taken seriously.”
Alan Seath, spokesman for the North Esk Park community, said he was aware there was “frustration” from some about the length of time the report has taken to date.
He added: “My experience is these things do take a wee while because of the importance of them. The ministers feel it is an important issue to consider.
“I think Aberdeenshire Council had a good, open and interesting debate and that it recognised the need and demand for travellers sites.
“There is obviously a dispute between ourselves and Sepa. I am confident our flood risk assessment was robust.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The St Cyrus planning application was called in by Scottish Ministers, on August 19, for their own determination because of the proposal’s potential conflict with national policy on flooding.
“A reporter has been appointed to examine the proposal and is currently working on his report and recommendations to Scottish ministers.
“As this application is currently before ministers, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the merits of the application.”