SNH urged to abandon airport beach designation plans 27/10/11
SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, has today called on Scottish Natural Heritage to remove Barra airport and the Ardveenish pier area from their proposals for a marine Special Area of Conservation in the Sound of Barra.
Alasdair Allan commented: “As I have made clear in the course of the current consultation the views of the people in Barra about this proposed new designation are strongly against it.
“One of the issues which has been raised with me frequently locally is whether designation would have any impact on the operation of the islands’ famous airport at Traigh Mhor.
“I think the point has now been reached where it would be reasonable for Scottish Natural Heritage to respond to these concerns by removing Traigh Mhor from these proposals altogether, given its economic importance, and given that this area is unlikely to contain any habitats which the designation is seeking to protect.
“The same arguments also apply to the area around Ardveenish pier, which is similarly important for Barra’s economic future.
“I have therefore written to both SNH and the Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson, to make this case.”