Bute’s STIFF campaigners finger two more fish farm applications connected to Inchmarnock

For Argyll reported recently on the campaign by an doughty group in Bute – Stop The Inchmarnock Fish Farm – or STIFF.

The group has fully engaged in a consciousness-raising event – with art demonstrations on the beach by Ian M Scott and Alison Clark, to attract potential fellow objectors. STIFF secretary Christine McArthur has also sent local newspaper, The Buteman, details of an application by Offshore Farm Developments Ltd (OFD) for two more fish farm sites.

The company is the same one STIFF is already at odds with over the proposed Inchmarnock Fish Farm – which is to go to a Public Inquiry on 24th February 2009. The new applications include another site off Inchmarnock, at Carrick Point; and a third site, near Glecknabae at the north of Bute, at Clate Point.

OFD’s original statement in support of the two applications explained that the Clate Point and Carrick Point sites would be used in rotation, along with the site north of Inchmarnock which will be the subject of February’s public inquiry.

These two proposed fish farms were submitted in July 2003 as a single application – because OFD planned to use them in rotation, along with the Inchmarnock site which will be subject to the Public Inquiry. Clate point and Carrick Point were also slated to be serviced from Portavadie or Tighnabruaich.

Donald Fowler, OFD Director, has now told The Buteman that the company has withdrawn the Carrick Point application and ‘parked’ the one for Clate Point until the outcome of the Public Inquiry is known.

OFD’s appeal against Bute and Cowal councillors’ earlier recommendation that the Crown Estate turn down the Inchmarnock application states that the company feels that the impact on tourism and visual amenity by the proposed farm has been exaggerated. In its view, the positive economic benefits of the project for Bute have also been ignored.

February will see both sides of the issue make their best case to the Inquiry.