Friends of Loch Hourn set to fight appeal by fish farm giant Mowi against Highland Council rejecting their expansion plan in the sea loch
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CAMPAIGNERS against the expansion of Mowi Scotland's fish farm on Loch Hourn have vowed to fight on after the multi-billion pound company announced it was appealing Highland Council's refusal of planning permission.
The Friends of Loch Hourn group spokesman Mick Simpson said: "We will continue fighting and put in additional information in response to the appeal to the Reporter who considers appeals when he or she is appointed.
"However we cannot do anything until we know what Highland Council are going to do in response to the appeal, but so far we have not heard from them."
He added that it comes as no surprise that Mowi has decided to appeal the Highland Council’s decision to refuse planning permission to expand their Loch Hourn farm.
"As a multi-billion pound international company able to employ lawyers, PR agencies and lobbyists, the extra cost of the appeal is no doubt worth the risk of defeat," he said on behalf of the group.
"Mowi’s representative claims that there are 'strong evidence-based grounds to contest the reasons' for the council’s refusal but he fails to acknowledge that the principal reason their application was refused relates to the continued dramatic decline of wild salmon and sea trout populations in five rivers adjacent to Mowi’s farm."
If Mowi's appeal is successful it would grant permission for an additional fish pen to be installed and increase the farm's production capacity by 10%.
Stephen MacIntyre, head of environment at Mowi Scotland said: “After careful consideration we have concluded there are strong evidence-based grounds to contest the reasons for refusal and, in accordance with the statutory provision, we intend to appeal against the decision.
“In this appeal we present clear evidence and information showing why we believe the decision to refuse planning permission was not consistent with development plan policy nor a proper assessment of the application and Environmental Impact Assessment Report.”
Mowi state that the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency’s (SEPA) assessment of the risk to protected species and seabed habitats posed by the application concludes that it would not pose any significant risk and have issued a varied Controlled Activities Regulations License.
The initial planning permission was recommended for approval by Highland Council planners and received no objections from statutory agencies but it was rejected by councillors after a vote.
