Controversial plans for sewage treatment at a Wester Ross village have been put on hold.
Scottish Water has confirmed it has put its proposal for a new plant at Gairloch on the back burner while an application aimed at safeguarding the area’s beaches is considered.
Locals and politicians had raised concern about the possible impact from the sewage treatment plans on some of the west coast’s best beaches.
The community in Gairloch has applied to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) for bathing water status at Gairloch and Big Sand, which would entitle them to greater protection.
A spokesman for the utility company said it was pausing the process to consider technical options which would allow the proposed plan to meet standards if the designation is granted.
A Scottish Water spokesman said: “We take the concerns of the communities we serve very seriously.
“An application for bathing water designation as been submitted to SEPA for Gairloch and Big Sands by the community.
“As such, plans for a new waste water treatment works are on hold pending a review of the technical options available to us to ensure the site will meet regulatory targets should the new designation be approved.”
The public water authority has been planning to spend £800,000 on a new sewage treatment process at Gairloch Wastewater Treatment Works, which serves around 1,000 customers.
However, several residents objected to the proposed end of a membrane process at the Fhasaich plant which currently produces an effluent described as “virtually” pure while removing harmful bacteria.
They argue a new septic tank system will release untreated effluent into the loch and will downgrade the system, reducing the water quality for bathing, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing, important earners during the tourist season for the village.
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant wrote to Scottish Water after receiving complaints from villagers about the proposal.
She said: “Although Scottish Water has offered to go through the original options with me, I will await the outcome of its review to see if it comes up with plans that are more agreeable to the community,” she said.
“When I first took this up on behalf of constituents, the water authority did not appear to shift from its original proposals which had received planning approval in March. So, this is a welcome step forward. The community deserve praise for pursuing this.
“Gairloch is such a beautiful location and its waters deserve to have the best sewage treatment available.”
