UK NEWS

TYCOON'S COUNTRY PILE INVADED BY TRAVELLERS

Charles Pearson's vast estate is now home to 16 caravans

Monday December 8,2008

By Ken Adams

ONE of Britain’s wealthiest men has seen his country estate invaded by travellers who are refusing to leave.

Charles Pearson’s vast shooting estate is now home to 16 caravans. The travellers, who plan to stay until after Christmas, allegedly damaged a steel gate to gain access to a roadside lay-by.

Media tycoon Mr Pearson is a member of one of Britain’s wealthiest families, with a £72million fortune.

His older brother is Viscount Cowdray, 63, who heads the Pearson family empire. They own the TV company which makes Australian soap Neighbours.

Mr Pearson owns the sprawling 53,000-acre Dunecht Estate in Garlogie, Aberdeenshire, and the two-acre strip of ground the travellers are occupying.

Estate manager Stuart Young said: “This is a lay-by and picnic spot, not a travellers’ site. We would prefer if they moved and it could be enjoyed again by everyone.”

Taxpayers’ money has now been used to install toilets at the camp, and lines of pegged-out washing greet rush-hour morning commuters heading to Aberdeen.

One traveller said: “We have rights and we want to stay until after Christmas”.

Aberdeenshire Council served a 48-hour eviction notice on the travellers two weeks ago – but they refused to move.

The local authority then backed down after reports one of the travellers had recently had a baby.

A council spokesperson said: “We have a duty to all communities, including travellers, and we are working to resolve the situation.”