The first stage in a public inquiry into plans for a salmon farm on Loch Long was held this week.
A pre-examination meeting was held on Thursday in Arrochar’s Three Villages Hall into Loch Long Salmon Company’s plan for Beinn Reithe, near the village.
The project would be the first in the UK to use a semi-closed containment system, which the company says greatly reduces the environmental impact of salmon farms.
It had plans for a further four sites on the west coast, each creating at least 12 full-time equivalent jobs and contributing £100,000 to local community causes.
But Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority rejected the plan after a report by officials said the development would ‘have an industrial appearance in an area of undeveloped coastline’.
Loch Long Salmon Company has appealed against the decision, which it said was ‘based on fear and lack of knowledge and understanding’, and the final decision will now be made by Scottish ministers – two of whom supported the plan last year.
Scottish Government Reporter David Liddell is running the public inquiry, which is expected to take place later this summer.
Last year SNP MSP Jenny Minto, who represents the neighbouring Argyll and Bute constituency, submitted a comment to the national park in favour and her fellow SNP MSP Angus Robertson wrote a letter of support, as did Argyll & Bute MP Brendan O’Hara and Conservatives Pam Gosal and Donald Cameron.
But Greens Ross Greer and Ariane Burgess called for the plan to be rejected.
Ms Minto is now Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, while Mr Robertson is Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.
After the opening hearing Ariane Burgess reaffirmed her opposition to the plan.
“It’s heartening to see the local community standing up to protect their local environment and the special status of the national park,” she said.
“It may be that semi-closed farms pose a lower risk to the surrounding environment than open cage salmon farms – but they still pose a risk.
“That was the conclusion of the national park authority when they rejected the application, given the particular importance of the site which connects to the Endrick Water Special Area of Conservation and its fragile population of Atlantic salmon.
“Rather than accept this decision, which was shared by many members of the local communities, it’s hugely disappointing that the developers are now appealing
“Our lochs and the delicate ecosystems they support are too valuable to put at risk of long-term damage and Ariane fully supports your campaign and will do all she can to continue to amplify the voice of the local community on this issue.”
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