Plans for a forestry track on a site above the Gareloch used for waste from Faslane are being considered by Argyll and Bute Council.
But the forestry itself has already been approved by another organisation – although the site affects a local nature reserve where there are records of black grouse.
Lorryloads of waste from construction at HM Naval Base Clyde started to be dumped on the Peaton Hill in 2018.
The work was briefly halted later that year when SEPA queried the licence but resumed soon afterwards until work on the SMERAS submarine facility ended last year.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation said that ‘materials such as top soil and weathered rock’ went to the hilltop site.
Now a planning application has been submitted to the council for a 500-metre forest track, which plans show as an ‘extension to existing access and farm track’.
A council spokesperson said: “We are currently engaging with the person we understand to be responsible for the works. We are aware there was a farm access point on to the road, however we are seeking further information to ascertain if the current arrangement is new and might require further permissions.”
‘Normal due diligence’
However a ‘compensatory planting scheme’ on the 35-hectare site was approved by Scottish Forestry last November.
A spokesman said: “In taking forward the planting scheme, the applicant undertook site surveys, engaged with stakeholders as part of the normal due diligence process.
“The site surveys were undertaken to assess the value of the site for archaeology, breeding birds, deep peat and open habitats.
“A landscape analysis was also undertaken.
“A compensatory planting scheme is where woodland which is lost through a development, such as a windfarm, is re-planted elsewhere to ensure there is no net loss of woodland cover.”
The council’s website shows constraints on the site include the Maol Riabhach site of importance for nature conservation, and maps included in the authority’s local development plan show the nature reserve shares boundaries with the proposed forestry site.
Above: A map submitted with the planning application. Below: A map from the council’s Local Development Plan, with the nature conservation site marked by brown hatchings.
The authority’s local development plan states: ” Development that would have an adverse effect on the integrity of the Local Nature Conservation Sites will not be supported unless the developer satisfactorily demonstrates that such adverse effects are clearly outweighed by social, environmental or economic benefits of community wide importance arising from the development proposal, and the council is satisfied that all possible mitigation measures have been incorporated to minimise the adverse effects on the interests of the site.”
It adds: “These sites play a valuable role in the environment, including providing vital links between different sites of nature conservation value, thus contributing to the development of habitat networks.
“They should therefore be protected against damaging development even when the site has been neglected or subject to poor management.”
There are records of black grouse on the northern slopes of Maol Riabhach, and its formal designation states it is: “An area of wet heathland, acid grassland, local flushes and bracken.
“The gently sloping plateau is dominated by heather, harestails, cotton-grass, deer grass and cross-leaved heath. drier areas have frequent blaeberry and wavey hair-grass.
“Local patches of Bog Myrtle, Round-leaved Sundew, Heath Spotted Orchid, and Bog Asphodel add interest.
“The summit area is predominantly acid grassland with heath bedstraw, tormentail, wavey hair-grass and sweet vernal grass. Local flushes are dominated by sharp-flowered rush and sedges.”
Details of the forestry track plan are on the council’s website – the reference number is 21/00440/PNFOR .
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