For Argyll

Isle of Bute’s campaigners against the planning application for a sixteen-cage fish farm to be established off the north coast of the little Inchmarnock island on Bute’s west side are STIFFening their resolve for battle.

Argyll and Bute Council’s Planning Department has recommended that permission should not be granted, a decision supported by local Councillors.

The Stop the Inchmarnock Fish Farm (STIFF) group have now been winded by the news that the applicants - Offshore Farm Developments Ltd (OFD), have briefed top QC, John D Campbell, to put their case to have the planning decision overturned and for permission to proceed to be granted.

Mr Campbell was lead counsel for the 2004-2004 inquiry into the spiralling costs of the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood.

STIFF Secretary (sorry - couldn’t resist it), Christine MacArthur, admits that the prospect of Mr Campbell leading the fight for the other side is ’scary’ but is delighted that help is to hand. Fellow QC, John McGhee, who has connections with Bute and has recently bought a holiday home there, has offered his services free to the objectors.

So it’s gloves off for the inquiry, under reporter Michael Culshaw, starting on 24th February 2009 and running for four days. The venue has not yet been decided.

Local newspaper, The Buteman, is as unable to resist the double entendres as For Argyll. Its online news piece says: ‘STIFF members (yes, they said that) will attempt to whip up (wow) further support for their view next Saturday, when landscape artist Ian McLachlan Scott will set up his easel on the beach at Ettrick Bay for a silent auction to raise money for the campaign group’.