Cononish Gold Mine battle likely

The application to re-open and extend Scotland’s only gold mine looks set to become the latest large-scale planning battle affecting the landscape and environment. Last week the application was described by Fiona Logan, chief executive of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, as, “our Beauly-Denny in terms of controversy”. On the one side conservations are raising serious concerns about wildlife, the affect on water quality and salmon, and landscape issues, and on the other the local community council and business development organisations are keen to see jobs created.

The application by Scotgold is to re-open the mine and extract 72,000 tonnes of ore a year. The process will be different to the previously operated mine on the site, near Tyndrum, as it will include crushing ore and extracting the minerals in a flotation process that would produce a spoil heap which would be drained into a holding pool. It is mainly this process, and the enlargement of the mine, that has attracted concerns raised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the RSPB and the Scottish Campaign for National Parks. The John Muir Trust (JMT) has today (14 July) added its voice against Scotgold’s plans.

The mine lies within an area defined by the Trust as high quality wild land. The Trust says that resuming operations will take away from the feelings of wildness and remoteness currently associated with the area. The Trust also feels that the development would have a negative impact on the landscape of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and other designated areas such as the Ben Lui Special Area of Convservation.

Steven Turnbull, Policy Officer for the JMT, said: “If Scotgold were to go back and demonstrate there will be no long-term deletrious effects on sensitive landscapes, recreational access to wild land or on existing tourist-based economies the Trust may withdraw its objection to the planning proposal as it currently stands.

“However, we do not believe that sufficient information has been given by Scotgold to show how negative impacts will be avoided, nor has any compelling socio-economic reason been presented as to why this would be necessary.”

The National Park will makes its decision on the application next month. As well as a conservation role the National Park also has a role to ensure sustainable communities in terms of supporting job creation. Locally there has been some support for the mine as it is hoped it will bring long term, year-round jobs and some tourism spin off, but others worry that it will have a negative affect on hillwalkers wanting to stay and walk locally and on tourism based on wildlife and the natural landscape.