Environmental challenge to zoo inspector

Jun 15 2006 Lennox Herald

ANIMAL campaigners have urged a leading zoo inspector to seriously consider the potential dangers of Loch Lomond’s new aquarium before giving it the go-ahead.

They claim Scottish Executive inspector Dr Anna Meredith has failed to take into account what they see as the environmental hazards posed by the Loch Lomond Aquarium, set to open in a few weeks’ time.

And they want her assurance that a zoo licence for the premises, to be operated by Merlin Entertainments, will not be handed out without their pollution concerns being recognised.

Dr Meredith has already stated she sees no problem in the premises being recommended for the licence, as in her opinion it meets the fulfilments required.

In a letter to West Dunbartonshire Council’s environmental services last July, she described the proposed aquarium as “well thought out” and an “exciting” project which would benefit tourism, education and conservation.

But John Robins, of Animal Concern, who has opposed the opening of the aquarium from the start, claims she has failed to look at objections to the plans which raise serious environmental concerns.

He said: “I am astonished that Dr Meredith only considered the application from Merlin and not any of the many objections before backing this application.

“She seems totally oblivious of the widely recognised environmental hazards posed by this project.

“Obviously the Scottish Executive do not take this issue seriously, despite the potential for the aquarium to cause irreparable damage to Loch Lomond.

“We have now asked the inspector to take into consideration, including taking advice from experts in pollution control systems, the potential dangers posed by the new aquarium before she takes her final decision on whether or not to approve the issue of a zoo license to Merlin.”

Mr Robins challenged Dr Meredith’s statement that the project would benefit conservation.

He said: “Part of our opposition to this project is the very real risk of pollution of the Loch Lomond and River Leven system by release of biological hazards including non-native species of plant, fish, animals or parasites into the environment.

“Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority expressed similar very serious concerns in their recent report to the planning committee meeting considering the application by Scottish Enterprise to install water tanks at the Drumkinnon site.

“I want to know if Dr Meredith’s inspection will include evaluation of the systems in place to prevent any possible biological hazards being released from the site into the wider environment.”

Dr Meredith is set to carry out a full inspection of the aquarium at Loch Lomond Shores on its completion.

In a letter to Mr Robins at the beginning of the month, she said that she will take into consideration all the requirements under the Zoo Licensing Act before making her decision.

She added: “As a zoo inspector, I am only able to advise on issues regarding compliance with the Zoo Licensing Act, and not on any planning or other environmental issues, which are the responsibility of the local authority.”