The shananigans around this 'development' continue! Just why is this dubious entrepeneur so keen to get his paws on this bit of Scotland. It cannot be just because his Mum hails from here surely.Let us appraise the situation. The plan evolved from wee Joke McConnell pointing out about the estate at Menie in Aberdeenshire. A coastal site, loads of dunes, ideal golf course area, but it also contains a site of Special Scientific Interest. Now dunes, golf courses and special sites can co-exist remarkably well with give and take on all sides, but this development took on a life of its own. Two golf courses, -then an enormous hotel which from the artists impression looked like a refugee from Brigadoon, -then holiday homes and- then executive houses - and no sign of the fact that the area was NOT scheduled for housing development and that the SSI would be destroyed in 'stabilising' the dunes. It was all or nothing with threats of complete withdrawal if consent refused. In the whaup's book that amounts to bullying.Alarm bells were ringing loud and clear. The plans in the process had to go to the local authority, which is Aberdeenshire who have always had rather an unique way of dealing with planning. Now you would expect them to be aware of the suitability of this site for development as after all they will ultimately be responsible for the roads, schooling, sewage, water supply and so on - in fact the basics and also have a pretty shrewd idea of the ground conditions and the suitability for building a scheme like this. Right let's step away from Aberdeenshire and consider the sort of site this is. It is adjacent to the North Sea, well known for its somewhat chilly temperature and bracing winds. The dunes are active - that means they are moving, although a certain degree of sympathetic stabilising has taken place. By that it means working with the natural processes and not trying to control them. Dunes tend to develop a protective layer to the land behind which because it is so near the sea tends to have a high water table. In other words it is a bit soggy and not well-drained with peaty zones. Not the sort of place to be attempting to build houses really as water-tables do tend to fluctuate with time and the amount of precipitation. That is without considering the SSI status.Now step back again and look at some of the recent statements.
- The sea level in the Med has risen - and it is noticeable. Some getting a bit bothered about it.
- Giant's Causeway is under threat as the sea level rises - up to a metre this century. The likely effects are rather unpleasant reading.
- In November 2007 a storm surge raced south down the North Sea - fortunately the sea defences held this time, but there are many worried faces over this and at sea things were very unpleasant. These surge events are expected to increase.
Now, the whaup knows of no way that the North Sea is going to be immune from this rise in sea level. A rise in sea level means a rise in the level to which the rivers flowing towards this base level which will ricochet upstream. That means increased likelihood of flooding on the Dee, the Don, the Ythan, the Deveron and so on as well as the smaller burns. Wet land is going to get wetter. And with higher sea levels, the water table is also going to rise, with associated problems. Bluntly, saturated land is more prone to flooding.
Now back to Menie. The site is already somewhat waterlogged.
What will happen to the dunes with rising sea levels?
What about the burns finding that base level is changing?
What about a rising water table?
What will happen if a storm surge hits this coast?
Sounds like an ideal place for a housing development to you?
Let us hope that the scrutineers from the Scottish Government take these questions on board.
