Jobs boost as planners back wrasse hatchery
THE ECONOMY trumped the environment as a controversial Machrihanish fish farm gained planning consent – despite more than 60 objections.
On Wednesday more than 100 supporters were vindicated when Marine Harvest’s 20,000 square metre wrasse hatchery, on a Machrihanish greenfield site, was unanimously approved by Argyll and Bute’s planning committee.
Wrasse are a so-called ‘cleaner species’ which eat sea lice. These parasites plague salmon in sea farms around the world.
Before the meeting, held from 10.30am in Victoria Hall, councillors were given a short tour of the area and the proposed site, facing Uisead beach, north of the Gauldrons.
Prior to the decision, a pre-determination hearing was held, at the direction of planning officers, due to the ‘extent of third party representation received’.
Marine Harvest managing director Ben Hadfield welcomed the decision and said: ‘We are delighted that the council has supported this project, which will allow for an increase in the production of wrasse to tackle the challenge of sea lice.
‘This project will create a number of jobs and help support a fragile rural economy.’
Save the Gauldrons (STG) protesters, led by Sound of Kintyre-based Bob Miller, vowed to continue the battle to preserve the coastal environment.
Before the committee vote, he raised the possibility of STG campaigners making a community buyout of the threatened area to preserve it forever.
Following the meeting, Mr Miller said: ‘The development can only proceed if the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Marine Scotland approve the Controlled Activities Regulations. These will provide a number of further hurdles.’
In its approval, Argyll and Bute Council’s full Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee found that Marine Harvest’s application was an exceptional case and did meet the Area Capacity Evaluation criteria.
Speaking earlier, Councillor Donald Kelly said that it was the first time for at least 17 years that a full planning meeting had been held in Campbeltown.
Mr Kelly added: ‘I have been a councillor for 17 years and I have never received so many letters, phone calls and emails from the community in support of an application.
‘This facility will put Argyll and Bute firmly on the map for a cleaner, greener way to deal with sea lice.’
Lyle Gillespie, who works for McFadyens, spoke about the need for Kintyre jobs and told the meeting: ‘McFadyens sponsored me to train as a quantity surveyor.
‘Projects like these provide employment opportunites and are vital to the area.’