John MacLachlan Ltd has been fined a total of £5,000 at Oban Sheriff Court following two separate incidents, reported to the Procurator Fiscal under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, where cement contaminated water caused pollution in the town’s Black Lynn Burn.

The first offence was brought to the notice of SEPA officers during a visit to the firm’s cement batching premises, in September 1997, at Torran Gorm Industrial Estate. Despite this, SEPA officers observed a similar repeat offence at the premises on 25 November.

The Black Lynn Burn is regarded as a feature of considerable amenity value to Oban’s residents and visitors. It also supports communities of flora and fauna typical of good to excellent water quality.

"Hopefully, this will serve as a warning to others that it is totally unacceptable to pollute the beautiful waters of Argyll," said Ronnie Robinson, SEPA Environmental Protection Officer. "SEPA strives to maintain or improve water quality and will not tolerate such blatant flouting of important environmental legislation."