Campaigners to learn of Gairloch water plan

CAMPAIGNERS in a Wester Ross community which took its battle over water treatment concerns to the beaches will next week learn of the compromise plan hammered out.

As Scottish Water revealed initial details of its proposals for the waste water treatment works (WWTW) in Gairloch, an MSP who has monitored the issue for the past two years issued initial concerns that the plans might not go far enough.

In April, Scottish Water withdrew an application to amend its discharge licence at Gairloch to allow further discussion to take place through a stakeholder group.

The body will now hold an information event in Gairloch Community Hall on Monday, September 24 to report back on progress made with a local stakeholder group over the summer.

Concerned locals feared downgraded treatment could result in the area’s prized beaches, a key attraction on the NC500 route, being jeopardised.

Scottish Water says that following completion of an independent technical review of the technology currently in place at the Gairloch WWTW and the options for the future, it has decided to go ahead with installation of a new treatment process made up of septic tanks, disc filters and ultra-violet (UV) treatment.

It will operate the new treatment process throughout the year for an initial two-year pilot period but will then seek to provide treatment without UV "for an agreed period" in the second winter.

At the end of the pilot period, Scottish Water will work with the stakeholder group "to agree long-term operating arrangements based on the evidence obtained".

Scottish Water’s head of corporate relations Alan Thomson said: "Our key goal is to find a reliable and sustainable solution that will serve our customers in Gairloch for the long term, reduce the risk of pollution and ensure the excellent status of Gairloch’s bathing waters is maintained. The approach we have identified via the Stakeholder Group will allow us to do this in partnership with the community, while building a strong body of evidence to guide future operation of the site."

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has been involved in the issue for two years since constituents contacted her over Scottish Water’s initial proposals.

She said: "In April Scottish Water promised to keep me informed as to progress with stakeholders, so it will be good to see the outcome of next week’s information event and the reaction from local people

"I am still concerned about a period without UV treatment – this appears to be a backward step. However Scottish Water has been in regular contact with stakeholders and I will wait to hear the assurances given to the community next week."

The event will run between 3.30pm and 7.30pm on Monday.

Share your views on the proposals by emailing newsdesk@spp-group.com or writing to us at the address on our letters page.