An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affairs programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson begins with a report from Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire and local objections to the proposal for the development of a large refuse landfill site. The second report looks at salmon fish farming off the west coast of Scotland and concerns by environmental groups that things are moving too quickly with little forward planning. The third and final report looks at concerns that too much sand is being...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affairs programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson begins with a report from Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire and local objections to the proposal for the development of a large refuse landfill site. The second report looks at salmon fish farming off the west coast of Scotland and concerns by environmental groups that things are moving too quickly with little forward planning. The third and final report looks at concerns that too much sand is being taken from the beach at Druridge Bay in Northumberland for use in the construction industry. Title: Landmark Eric Robson introduces the current edition of the programme. A view of a cliff top castle, Slains Castle near Aberdeen said to have inspired Bram Stoker to write is famous book ‘Dracula’ opens this episode of Landmark. The castle is a ruin one of many tourist sites at Cruden Bay. At a nearby site a refuse lorry dumps a load of waste and refuse, a mechanical shovel goes over it, crushing it into the ground and another moves the refuse into a position to be buried as landfill; more refuse is tipped by a lorry. Robert Smith speaking for the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, says that 25 million cubic metres of refuse is generated in Scotland each year. Eric Robson says that 90% of this is destined for landfill sites, which are becoming scarcer locally. Caird Environmental specialise in refuse disposal and have teamed up with quarry company Evered to buy a brickworks together with a large claypit in Cruden Bay. The partnership has sought planning permission to dump one million cubic metres of refuse in the old claypits. Elsewhere in the past landfill has caused environmental problems with toxic liquids poisoning local water courses, and methane gas generated by waste has caused explosions. Caird wants to tap any gas and use it to fuel the brickworks. They are confident that modern techniques should avoid the problems of leachate, water or liquid that percolates through landfill carrying high concentrations of dissolved or suspended matter. Mark Girdler from Caird Environmental explains how the company will manage the landfill including leachate. Local opposition manifests itself as the Determined Residents Against Caird’s Unwelcome Land Acquisition, D.R.A.C.U.L.A. for short. Peter Abenheimer speaks on camera on behalf of D.R.A.C.U.L.A. He says the site is too close to local housing, and there is likely to be some significant problems with windblown litter, gas build up, poisonous leachate, vermin, and noxious smells. Mark Girdler says a buffer zone will be constructed near the properties and processed waste material will be covered each working day. The village population are also concerned that heavy traffic associated with development and management of the landfill will put visitors off visiting Cruden Bay. Councillor Jim Aitken from the Cruden Bay Community Association speaks of the concerns over the proposed landfill site. Banff and Buchan local district council is responsible for planning permission and waste disposal. Douglas Miller director of environmental health for the council talks of the shortage of places to dispose of waste. Peter Abenheimer states that he thinks the council is taking a very short-term view in managing waste by simply dumping it in a hole in the ground. One other option would be to use the waste as fuel, as Newcastle have done, where domestic waste is turned into fuel pellets. However, the district council takes the view that the system is only cost effective in large urban areas. Douglas Miller explains that they are looking at local recycling and will be investing in some aspects of that. Mark Girdler reassures the residents if they get the go ahead to develop the site that the impact on homes etc. will be properly controlled. Robert Smith says that this proposal at Cruden Bay is of national importance and he says the Secretary of State for Scotland should deal with the problem of refuse disposal at a national level and not leave it to be dealt with by each local district council. If this does not happen Robert Smith sees Scotland being awash with rubbish in 2020. Title: Landmark Eric Robson introduces an item on fish farming. Fish farming, he says has recently come under the scrutiny of a select committee on agriculture and fisheries so big changes may be on the way. A view of Glasgow fish market underlines the commentary’s assertion that demand for fish remains high, compared to some staple foods. Sea lochs on the west coast of Scotland play an increasing role in the supply of fish, especially salmon. Environmentalists are saying that it’s all happening too quickly. Alison Ross of the Marine Conservation society says there has been no forward planning about how the industry should grow, where it should be sited. If a fish farm does not survive it may also be the cause of other environmental damage. David Windmill, managing director of McConnell Salmon says that the industry has moved quickly, but he thinks that in terms of public relations the industry has not performed well. The industry is of significant benefit to Scotland’s west coast. In this area upwards of 2000 people work in the industry and associated areas of work. However, some believe that job creation shouldn’t override conservation. The number of salmon supported in sea loch’s is in the thousands and pollution is a problem from feeding dense populations of fish. Artificial feed is not always completely consumed and falls to the sea-bed beneath the cages as does the fishes own waste products, with the effect of displacing other wildlife on the sea- bed. David Windmill says that work has been done on the effect of sedimentation under cages, which suggests the impact on the environment hasn’t been great, and he says that with a change in practices the affect could be reduced further. But conservationists are also concerned over the density of the salmon population in fish farms, which may increase disease from sea borne parasites, especially sea lice. A chemical pesticide is used in controlling this which contains a toxic chemical, not only for sea lice but for other marine organisms. David Windmill says alternative treatments are being researched, including biological control. The wrasse is a fish that feeds on sea lice, although to make that a viable alternative for pest control further work must be done. Other threats to the salmon are from natural predators such as seals and David Windmill admits that on occasion seals are shot by salmon farmers. Alison Ross believes all environmental and wildlife considerations should be explored prior to the siting of a fish farm. David Windmill believes the industry is progressing in a sensible way and it’s not in their interest to harm the local ecology. Alison Ross advocates a regulatory body be established to consider public interest, conservation and the environment and review the long-term prospects of employment and sustainability. Eric Robson goes on to talk about the threats to coastlines and at Druridge Bay there is concern about the amount of sand that is being taken from the beach commercially. With severe erosion in the area there are calls for sand extraction to be stopped. Dr Nick Scott represents the Northumberland Wildlife Trust and Kevin Flaherty chairman of Northumberland planning committee join Eric at Druridge Bay. Nick Scott says that there isn’t as much sand as it looks at the bay. Sand dunes develop from the available sand and erosion is affecting these valuable wildlife havens. Also with rising sea levels, he says we must preserve our natural coastal defences. Kevin Flaherty says the county council shouldn’t have given permission to extract sand from the bay and he agrees that the problem needs rectifying. However, Castle Morpeth district council gave permission for sand extraction, although they are looking into ways of stopping it. For the county council to try and revoke planning permission there is a possibility that they may have to pay compensation to the company running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. The programme ends with an appeal for the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust. Eric Robson signs off. Title: Cruden Bay Credits: Camera Peter Morgan Sound George Leslie Production Assistant Joan Comber Salmon Farming: Camera David Baillie Research Jacqui Marson Druridge Bay: Camera Chris Sutcliffe Sound Paul Gunn Production Secretary Coreen Harvey Assistant VT Editor Claire Storey VT Editors Amanda Baxter, Howard Beebe, Robin Sinton Sound Postproduction George Joisece Research William Mount Associate Producer Crispin Sadler Executive Producer Chris Potter Producer Charles Bowden Waterfront Productions for Tyne Tees Television© MCMLXXXIX