Fish farm ‘will ruin Orwell’s beloved isle’
Son of legendary 1984 author attacks plans for Jura
GeOrGe Orwell’s son has criticised plans to build an enormous fish farm in waters off the island where the author wrote 1984.
Kames Fish Farming wants to build a sea trout farm off the west coast of Jura, described by Orwell as a ‘peaceful’ place which let him escape the ‘Big Brother’ of the city.
The farm, which could hold 600,000 fish at a time in a dozen cages, would be close to the house where Orwell wrote his most celebrated work.
The company has submitted details of the plans for the cages, each around 350ft in diameter, to the council for advice ahead of a full application for the project.
But Orwell’s son richard Blair, 74, said: ‘Jura is a natural beauty spot which is beyond compare and needs to be protected. I would be extremely unhappy if this went ahead as there are no fish farms around Jura.’
George Orwell wrote 1984 in Barnhill Farmhouse on the Hebridean island, home to 200 people.
He stayed for several years on Jura and spent up to ten hours a day writing, while filling his evenings with fishing and checking lobster pots.
More than 2,600 people have signed a petition – backed by campaign group Friends of the Sound of Jura – opposing the proposals.
A spokesman for Kames Fish Farming said: ‘Plans for the development are at an early stage and we are encouraging members of the public to have their say.’ He added that there was no other location which would be ‘technically feasible’ for the project.
Meanwhile, more than 3,000 people have opposed Donald Trump’s proposals for a luxury 550-home estate near his golf resort in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. A further 19,000 signed an online petition by the Tripping Up Trump campaign. A campaign spokesman said: ‘This location is inappropriate for a housing scheme.’
Sarah Malone of Trump International said: ‘Politically motivated and vexatious objections are not relevant within Scottish planning law. This project has tremendous support.’