Garlaff landfill Site, Skares - Barr Ltd - East Ayrshire Council

(ii) The ecological assessment is based on data collected for the EIS for the
Skares Road opencast site, which data is interpreted in the context of the current
proposal. In view of the fact that no additional loss of habitat is being incurred,
this approach is reasonable, although it would have been helpful to have included
summary plans illustrating the data being interpreted. Impacts of increased
vermin on local fauna are acknowledged as a key potential impact. An agreed
mitigation programme should include a detailed pest control strategy to
incorporate the elements described including progressive restoration, daily
cover and use of a bird of prey as a scarer.
Implementation of the mitigation measures promoted in the EIS can
be secured through a Section 75 Agreement should consent be
granted for the proposed development.
(iii) Although no additional habitat is proposed in terms of area, the
prolongation of the working lifetime of the site necessarily means a delay in
restoration to habitat suitable for wildlife. Advance restoration of some of the
existing Garlaff site as well as the non-operational parts of Area C may serve to
offset this impact to a modest extent. SNH notes the possibility that exposed
cliffs produced as part of the opencast void might present attractive nesting
opportunities to certain bird species, notably peregrine, and in line with the
suggestion in the EIS, an agreed mitigation plan should also include appropriate
monitoring of such areas prior to landfill operations that might affect them. The
possibility of future otter use of the Polcalk and Rose Burns is noted. If these are
likely to be affected by the proposed development, works should not proceed
until an acknowledged specialist has carried out a survey of otter use.
The issues raised by SNH can be addressed through the
establishment of a proposed Technical Support Group for the site.
(iv) The original wider Skares Road development included as part of the
restoration proposals, a heritage trail that would run around the southern
periphery of the current application site. This is not included on the restoration
master plan and should be included in the final restoration scheme.
The provision of the heritage trail can be addressed through the
establishment of a proposed Technical Support Group for the site
which would assist in developing the restoration strategy and
master plan for the site including final afteruse proposals.
(v) The EIS includes a restoration master plan, illustrating the broad habitat
and landscape features to be created during restoration. It is noted that the EIS
proposes that detailed design proposals be submitted prior to each phase of the
progressive restoration. SNH considers it appropriate for the applicant to draw
up a complete, detailed restoration scheme prior to the commencement of the
landfill operations. Such a restoration scheme should illustrate the phased
stages of reclamation/restoration. The restoration scheme should include details
of species used in woodland planting and other features such as wetland areas
and hedgerows. As far as possible, detailed restoration proposals should be set