There were scenes of jubilation as councillors voted to give retrospective planning permission to a new Travellers’ site.

Elected members at Aberdeenshire Council discussed the application lodged for North Esk Park, near St Cyrus.

A total of 41 voted in favour with 24 against, despite a report recommending refusal.

Members from 13 families, who have been living on the site, stood up and cheered after the announcement.

The plans will now go to the Scottish Government for a Scottish Environment Protection Agency objection to be dealt with.

Alan Seath, planning consultant for the Traveller site, said: “I’m delighted, absolutely delighted.

“We know it’s not over but it’s a brave decision by the council. The families can go away now knowing they have a home to go to.”

The development consists of a touring site with 19 spaces for touring caravans and a permanent site with space for 10 caravans.

The application for an official halting and touring site had been recommended for refusal due to concerns around flooding, drainage and the coastal location.

But elected members voted to grant the latest application by majority, as long as conditions including compensatory water storage, emergency planning and appropriate landscaping were met.

An application for another Traveller site in Boddam was unanimously rejected.