Estate works has no impact on its wildlife

Visit by police is‘welcomed’by landowners

A Perthshire landowner says they did nothing wrong after concerns were raised about nesting birds.

Blackford Estates, which owns a site proposed for quarrying near Blackford, responded to allegations that sand martins may have been disturbed.

The group says it welcomed a visit from Police Scotland and that there were no concerns from officers.

A spokesperson said: “There is currently a planning application being considered, and, if successful, the company applying for the planning will comply with any and all conditions.

“There has been a visit from the wildlife police, which is welcome. The officers confirmed no impact.

“The activity referred to is normal continuity of estate work, purely for our own use, and nothing to do with the planning application nor with the company applying for the planning consent.”

Last week RSPB Scotland and Police Scotland confirmed they had been called in following allegations that nesting bird sites had been destroyed amid works at Mains of Panholes site outside Blackford.

If the application is approved the land would be made more level for farming, with the minerals used for the proposed Highland Spring rail yard which was previously approved.

Kilmac is working on the quarry planning application.

A Kilmac spokesman said:“Kilmac have not been involved in any work on-site at Milton of Panholes.

“We are currently awaiting the response from Perth and Kinross Council to the planning application we submitted earlier this year.

“As and when we receive the local authority’s verdict on that application - as with any project Kilmac is involved with. We will certainly comply with whatever planning considerations the council deem fit to introduce if planning consent is granted.”