Mine is planned at beauty spot

A LARGE oil company has lodged a planning application to create a major mine at a beauty spot.

A subsidiary of oilfield services giant Schlumberger, M-I SWACO has revived plans for a barite mine near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, nearly 20 years after they were thrown out.

Barite is a mineral which is mostly used as a weighting agent in the oil and gas industry, but can be developed and used by doctors to help detect rare cancers.

A previous application for the site was refused in 1996 on the grounds of its visual impact and road access.

Under the new plans, the mine will be less obtrusive and mine traffic will travel on a new access route, avoiding towns and villages in the Tay valley.

Ian Hughes, project manager for M-I SWACO, said: ‘We have made significant adjustments to our proposals.’

The application will be considered by Perth and Kinross Council.