More fines over Perth hydro scheme

Two company directors have been fined £10,000 in total for breaching environmental licences and polluting a local watercourse when carrying out construction works for the Inverinian Hydro Scheme in Perthshire

Despite repeated warnings from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the contractors failed to take action to prevent pollution from their works and illegally built a pipeline, ford and access track.

The resulting silt significantly affected the rivers and the habitat of protected freshwater pearl mussels.

Allan Smith, director of A&C Construction, and Charles Kippen, director of Chic Kippen and Son, both pleaded guilty to breaching the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) Regulations 2011.

Shawater, the firm employing the contractors, was fined £4,000 in February.