The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Bigger oyster farm refusal
Plans for a Lochaber shellfish farm – which have attracted more than 40 objections – have been narrowly rejected by Highland councillors.
DrumnadrochitbasedMeasan naMara – Gaelic for Fruits of the Sea – was seeking planning consent to increase the size of its oyster farm in Loch Moidart at Acharacle.
Director William McDermott, of Measan na Mara, has operated the farm as a one-man business for 17 years, producing about 20 tonnes of the delicacy each year.
The company applied for permission to site 21,420 trestles, each measuring about 10ft by 3ft by 18in, at four separate sites in the loch.
However councillors at the south planning applications committee were told yesterday that the plans had been reduced in scale since they
“Concerns about impact on marine tourism”
visited the this month.
James Bromham, aquaculture development officer, said that the amended application was for 16,400 trestles producing 270 tonnes a year.
But Councillor Andrew Baxter proposed refusal because of the visual impact.
He said that the total size of the site involved was the equivalent of 17 rugby pitches.
He added: “I think the scale of production is wholly inappropriate for this area, and within mainland Scotland.”
He was supported by ward colleague Thomas MacLennan, who raised concerns about the imp a c t on marine tourism.
Mr McDermott attended the meeting to hear the decision. He said later that he would appeal the refusal but declined to comment further.
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