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Community told of innovation at heart of proposed development
Scottish Salmon Company
THE Scottish Salmon Company’s third community meeting, in Brodick public hall, passed off peacefully, attracting curious Arran locals rather than the organsied protests of earlier meetings.
The company’s proposed development is located off the island’s northeast coast, in the Firth of Clyde.
The farm has ‘innovation at its heart’, said the SSC, ensuring robust fish health and welfare and environmental sustainability.
Two groups of 10 pens of 120m circumference will be arranged in two rows of five, with a linked feed barge. All pens will be painted dark grey or black to minimise visual impact.
A scoping report was submitted to North Ayrshire council in March, and scoping responses were then received and considered.
The public consultation process took place in April and May, and over the next month all comments will be discussed, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be conducted, and any design refinements carried out.
Then, in the summer, the planning application will be submitted, with a decision anticipated in the winter of 2019-2020.
A local socio economic impact study, conducted by Imani Development, has shown that the new farm would create up to 10 direct jobs, plus a further 51 jobs across Scotland in the supply chain.
Andrew Parker of Imani said: ‘There are positive impacts across the whole industry for a site of this size, all the way through the supply chain.’
And the jobs created would not just be in rural areas on the west coast. In North Ayrshire, W&J Knox will supply the nets and family run Arran Workboats, which the SSC has worked with for 30 years, is currently building six boats for the company.
“There are impacts across the whole industry for a site of size’” this