Traveller site needs £1m revamp

The St Christopher's site was criticised by inspectors

Plans to renovate a gypsy site in Angus will cost almost £1m, BBC Scotland has learned.

The proposals for St Christopher's Travelling People's site near Montrose go before Angus Council on Thursday.

Officials have recommended Dundee Plant Company be awarded a £820,000 contract to improve facilities on the site, which has problems with flooding.

More than half of the total cost of the project will be paid for with money from the Scottish Government.

Under the proposals, the site at Tayock would be resurfaced, toilet blocks improved and play areas built for children.

Angus Council will have to provide alternative accommodation for residents while the work is carried out.

A council spokesman told the BBC Scotland news website that pitch rents would not be increased as a direct result of the renovation.

The St Christopher's site was one of the first purpose-built sites for travelling people in Scotland when it opened in 1978.

Its facilities had previously been criticised by Communities Scotland inspectors, who recommended the site be extensively modernised.