Dame Helen Mirren has joined almost 1,000 Highland residents in launching an 11th hour bid to block a new waste plant at a north village.
The Oscar-winning movie star has told campaigners she was “appalled” when she learned the proposed water treatment works at Ardersier.
The actress – who married her husband Taylor Hackford at Ardersier Parish Church on Hogmanay in 1997 – is now poised to sign a petition against the development.
It was only launched six days ago but by last night had already attracted more than 910 backers.
Scottish Water won permission for the £11million development in 2011, but a fresh campaign has been launched to block it in recent weeks.
The project involves the upgrade of the existing waste water treatment works at Ardersier, a replacement outflow from the plant to the Moray Firth, and a new main sewer in the area east of Inverness.
Scottish Water says the work is essential to support plans to create a new town at Tornagrain and other developments along the Inverness to Nairn corridor.
But opponents claim there was not sufficient consultation, that there will be heavy traffic flowing through the village as a result, that protected species could be threatened and that the smell will deter tourists and damage local residents’s quality of life.
They have contacted Dame Helen to recruit her to their campaign.
Isla O’Reilly, one of the local residents behind the protest, said: “She responded pretty quickly to my e-mail, through her publicist, to say that she had read the message and was appalled and would sign the petition.
“She said that she was more than happy to be associated with the campaign and supports us fully.”
In a statement, the campaign group said: “We do not believe that in order to allow a new town to be built at Tornagrain we should see our village being sacrificed.”
Scottish Water has organised an information event about the scheme between 3pm-7pm on Wednesday, at the War Memorial Hall in Ardersier.
Highland Labour MSP David Stewart has written to Scottish Water about the plans.
“When permission is sought for developments like this it is important to ensure that the views of the whole community are taken into account,” he said.
“A number of residents of Ardersier clearly feel that this has not been the case in this regard to this project.”
A Scottish Water spokesman said that there had been extensive consultation.
“We are investing more than £11million in four essential improvement projects to upgrade the waste water infrastructure in the Ardersier and surrounding area,” he said.
“The significant investment, which includes the upgrading of the Ardersier waste water treatment works, will protect the environment of the Moray Firth while supporting the economy of the A96 corridor – helping to enable development at Tornagrain, which is now progressing.
“This is not a new proposal – these projects were proposed around six years ago when engagement with the community first took place.
“Planning permission for the upgraded waste water treatment works was granted in June 2011 and it is important to understand that this is on the site of our existing facility, which already takes flows from the existing Tornagrain village.”
He added that Scottish Water held talks with Ardersier Community Council earlier this month to provide an update on the investment programme.
“At their request, we have organised an information event to be timed with their next meeting so that they have the opportunity to discuss the projects immediately afterwards,” the spokesman said.
“We also met local councillors and have sent letters to households in the area to invite them to attend the information event.
“We look forward to taking this opportunity at the information event to allay concerns, answer questions and provide clarification on the issues that are being raised.
“In particular, we can provide reassurances on how we are working closely with Highland Council on all road and traffic management matters.”
