A north-east councillor has raised “grave” concerns about the effects of planned traveller stop over sites in the area.
Aberdeenshire Concil is in the early stages of a public consultation on creating up to four camps in the region.
But now Ellon councillor Gillian Owen has said that the issue is too toxic for local members to debate.
She said: “I am gravely concerned at the damage this issue is causing my community and I believe others. The tensions raised by even an examination of a potential site are acute and sometimes worrying in their tone.”
Her comments come after several freedom of information requests were submitted, requesting that email correspondence about the proposed Golf Road site in Ellon was released.
Mrs Owen claims the resulting backlash has been like a “witch hunt”.
Tomorrow the local authority’s gypsy traveller subcommittee is visiting a number of sites, including the land on the northern edge of Ellon. The committee members have cancelled a scheduled meeting to make the visits.
Another of the proposed sites is at Aikey Brae near Old Deer. The land there has been a gypsy traveller meeting place for centuries.
Traveller debate could become witch hunt, says councillor
