New waterworks to protect River Spey

Published on Friday 3 July 2009 22:20

A PROJECT aims to help new houses in the Cairngorms National Park while protecting one of Scotland's best angling rivers.

Yesterday marked the completion of a 3.8 million waste water treatment works at Newtonmore, which provides extra capacity for development in the area where new housing is needed.

Fergus Ewing, a Highland MSP and community safety minister, said: "The shortage of capacity in the Newtonmore area was a matter that many constituents had raised with me over the ten years I have been MSP for the area, particularly for new home building.

"I am pleased that Scottish Water have now completed this work, and recognised that the consultation with the community has been good."

The project, which started at the end of 2007, is part of Scottish Water's 2010 Vision for the Highlands, a 200 million programme of improvements.

Colin Munns, Scottish Water's planner for Badenoch and Strathspey, said:

"Angling is a vital part of the Cairngorms economy and our new treatment works ensures good quality water in the famous River Spey.

"There's also a need for new housing in the National Park and by working closely with authorities and developers we have ensured the new works has the capacity to help the community grow and thrive."

As well as greater capacity, the new works has an improved treatment process better able to cope with the changes in volumes of waste water received, particularly during the summer tourist season when the local population dramatically increases.