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Fears over ‘waste dumping’ at Scrabster shore allayed after simple explanation





Wild swimmers flagged up a possible environmental concern after a tractor was seen at Scrabster allegedly dumping waste in the sea.

A video, since removed from Facebook, was shared online and appeared to show a tractor on the shoreline with allegations that it was dumping slurry or some other form of waste from a tanker it was towing.

A frame grab from the video that caused uproar in the wild swimming community. Many believed the tractor was illegally dumping waste into the sea but Scrabster Harbour says water was being pumped into the tanker (bowser) it was pulling.
A frame grab from the video that caused uproar in the wild swimming community. Many believed the tractor was illegally dumping waste into the sea but Scrabster Harbour says water was being pumped into the tanker (bowser) it was pulling.

Many condemned what they saw as an illegal activity and a frame grab from the video was shared by one of the swimmers asking if the newspaper could look into the matter.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) had been contacted by a concerned local about the matter and said that it had “received reports of alleged effluent dumping involving a slurry tanker at Scrabster Slipway on Wednesday 11 December 2024”.

“SEPA are currently reviewing the information available to establish the nature of the activity and those responsible.

“We would like to thank the members of the public who reported this and welcome any further information. Anyone with concerns about a potential pollution incident can contact SEPA via our online form or by calling 0800 80 70 60.”

However, a more prosaic explanation for the activity was received from an official source at Scrabster Harbour who stated: “I've been passed a message from our harbour email regarding an alleged slurry issue at the harbour.

“We were informed that the incident in the photo you shared was one in which a bowser was being filled with water, not dumped.

“We'll assist SEPA with any further investigation they deem necessary.”

A local farmer also informed the paper that he knew of “legitimate” work carried out around that site in which water was being used to help clean up some areas.




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