Travellers set up camp
COMPANIES at the Brechin Business Park had their second visit in an eight-week period of travelling people, with around 25 vehicles, trailers and caravans arriving at the site on Friday afternoon.
It is the third time in a 12-month period that owners and proprietors have had to put up with the influx of travellers and the second time the site has been turned into an improvised camp site in the last two months.
While, various destinations in and around Angus have been affected, there was, understandably, little sympathy for those who have parked on their doorsteps from those trying to get on with their business as normal
One of the businesses closest to the travellers' site is Black's of Brechin and, having previously taken the issue up with the local authority, the company's spokesman, Bobby Black, was clearly angered by what has gone on.
"I know the Provost and the police visited the site on Friday afternoon, but I don't know what they are going to do.
"The situation has got totally out of hand now. It is affecting our customers who visit us at the business park and we have highlighted our concerns to Angus Council on several occasions, all of which have been white-washed.
"The Provost informed me that she had taken the matter up with the council four weeks ago and she was very disappointed there has been nothing done."
While Mr Black declined to comment further on the matter, it's believed that a number of businesses from the business park have written to Angus Council's chief executive regarding the matter.
A spokesperson for Angus Council said: "We are aware of the encampment at Brechin Business Park and are monitoring the situation in line with our policies and procedures."
Provost Ruth Leslie Melville laid the blame directly at the feet of the government, who, she said, must come forward not only with more cash to tackle the issue, but also with a clear set of guidelines and criteria for local authorities up and down the country to deal with the problem.
"I am very disappointed that we have a recurrence of this situation. It isn't only the county of Angus that has suffered as a result of this but throughout the country right up the north east of the country, throughout Aberdeen, Stonehaven, Kincardine. All of these areas have had problems.
"There has to be somewhere for these people to go. Until the government puts in sufficient money and gives us adequate guidance, it's very difficult to come up with an answer that is satisfactory to everybody. Funding and logistics are a major part of the problem."
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Weather for Brechin
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
