Home   News   Article

Probe into Scottish Water called for by Ardersier resident after enforcement notice issued by Highland Council


By Donald Wilson

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Clive Meredith outside the controversial Ardersier Waste Water treatment Plant...Picture: Gary Anthony..
Clive Meredith outside the controversial Ardersier Waste Water treatment Plant...Picture: Gary Anthony..

An Ardersier resident who revealed Scottish Water had erected a large tank at the village's new water treatment works which didn't comply with the planning consent is calling for a probe into the project and the utility company's dealings with Highland Council planners.

Scottish Water were served with an Enforcement Notice to reduce the height of the picket fence thickener tank after Clive Meredith spotted the departure from approved plans.

Local residents had waged a long campaign against the utility company to try and block the waste water treatment plant which they fear ultimately will be used for sewage from Nairn and Inverness.

Mr Meredith, who sparked the probe into the unauthorised tank, has accused Scottish Water of ignoring planning rules and Highland Council's planners of turning a blind eye to their activities.

"The original completion date was December 2019 at a cost of £11 million," said Mr Meredith. Projected delays are now expected to run until at least summer of 2022, with final completion not projected until end of 2022 and the costs are unknown."

He said SW 'cannot or will not' provide details of additional costs he sought through a Freedom of Information request.

"But in the end they have said it is the public who will be footing the bill for their mistakes."

At a Community Liaison Group meeting on November, 25 2020 Mr Paul Sexton, SW General Manager stated on behalf of SW their position was that they would prefer not to remove and redesign the structures, 'because of the time this would take and the cost to customers of doing so'.

Mr Meredith said he submitted his request for the financial details and additional costs of compliance with the Enforcement Notice through an FOI.

Scottish Water responded stating at this stage they don’t have the requested information available and would not bennn until the works are completed

Mr Meredith said Mr Sexton alluded to the additional cost burden of the revised structures.

Clive Meredith outside the controversial Ardersier Waste Water treatment Plant...Picture: Gary Anthony..
Clive Meredith outside the controversial Ardersier Waste Water treatment Plant...Picture: Gary Anthony..

"But the company have no idea what these additional costs will eventually be. I do not accept this explanation as it is quite remarkable that senior management within the company has not discussed or obtained an estimate from their contractor(s) regarding these additional costs along with the time scale required to implement them."

As well as their breach of planning Mr Meredith said changes to the tank began seven weeks ago. However they had not complied with a Notice of Initiation of Development.

"I noticed the company had not adhered to Highland Councils "Decision Notice, dated 27 April 2021 that they must submit a Notice of Initiation of Development in accordance with Section 27A of the Act to the Planning Authority prior to work commencing on site.

"The company had not submitted this notice and were technically in breach of The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 . I contend the company has a deliberate disregard for planning law from the top down. Furthermore there is no ownership and accountability within the company."

Mr Meredith said Scottish Water had also failed to provide an updated Odour Management Plan in accordance with the enforcement notice served on the company.

"These mistakes are simply inexcusable from a corporate public utility company and further the dreadful reputation that Scottish Water has gained within our community.The company is simply not learning from past mistakes.

"Local Councillor Glynis Sinclair and myself are being constantly fobbed off with excuses as per the “internal investigation” as to how this all went so badly wrong for the company.

"Douglas Millican, Chief Executive of SW acknowledges serious mistakes in his Interim Report and Accounts for the six months to 30 September 2020

stating : 'we have failed in our commitment to open and transparent engagement, however unintentionally. We regret this failure and recognise it has

damaged our relationship with the community. We are committed to doing all we can to resolve the issue'."

Mr Meredith who is communication with MSP Fergus Ewing and senior civil servants at Holyrood said: "I want a committee set up to look into this entire process since 2010 and the interactions between Highland Council planning services and Scottish Water. They are failing to learn from past mistakes."

READ: Village tap plan withdrawn – Scottish Water had hoped to place a Top Up Tap outside the Scottish Canals centre in Canalside North in Fort Augustus


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More