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| Oil yard plan clears major obstacle 09 March 2006 | |
| PLANS for a major new community on the site of a former oil yard at Ardersier have taken a major step forward by winning the conditional support of the Scottish Executive's environmental watchdog. Yesterday, Scottish Natural Heritage announced that it was not opposed in principle to the proposal for 2000 homes, a hotel complex and 500-berth marina at Whiteness Head, despite acknowledging that the scheme would be likely to have an adverse effect on the Moray Firth Special Area of Conservation. However, SNH has asked the Whiteness Development Company to carry out more work to address concerns about public access and potential damage to the area's dolphin and porpoise populations. SNH, which has the power to object and force a public inquiry, also wants to undertake further research before taking a final decision on the plans, which have been lodged with Highland Council. "We have established a close working relationship with the developer over the past 18 months, " said SNH's Inverness area officer Ben Leyshon. "We do have a number of concerns about the proposed development but we have asked for more information and, once we have seen that, we will re-assess the proposal. "We are pleased to note the intention of the developer to maximise positive environmental benefits from the development as well as the recognition that the natural heritage is a major potential marketing tool at this site. "This is an ongoing process and we are keen to remain part of that and to work with the developer closely in the future." SNH's stance was welcomed by Whiteness, which was confident that concerns about the neighbouring saltmarsh site of special scientific interest, which accommodates thousands of protected birds every winter, could be addressed. |
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