ADDENDUM SUMMARY
Background:
DF Concerts Limited (DFC) submitted a planning application and an Environmental Statement (ES) on 15th January 2015 which assessed the environmental impacts of the proposed annual music festival at the Strathallan Castle Estate in Perthshire Scotland.
Following a 4 week consultation period, Perth & Kinross Council advised on 6th March 2015 that additional information was required to be submitted. A copy of their letter is provided as Attachment 1.
This document summaries the content and findings of the Addendum to the Environmental Statement (ES), which was submitted last month. The Addendum will also be subject to a 4 week consultation period until Saturday April 25th.
Key Issues
Further information was requested on the following key issues, in apparent decreasing order of importance were:
1. Traffic & Transport
2. Ecology
3. Ornithology
4. Water Management/Private Water Supplies
5. Noise
6. Project Description
7. The Site Selection Process
1.TRAFFIC & TRANSPORT
By applying the successful process that had been adopted over the past 18yrs at Balado, the 2015 Strathallan Traffic Management Plan 2015 (TMP) has been developed as an evolving document by a Traffic sub-Group.
The TMP has been updated to:
· A format making it more accessible for public reading.
· Has incorporated the newly available forecast information obtained from an analysis of the type of ticket purchased and post code data for sales of 30,000 tickets for the 2015 event. This information has given greater certainty and confidence in the prediction of the likely split between arrival days and the origin of trips and the identification of further routing options
· Further discussions have been held with public transport operators and this has informed an updated view on the likely bus schedule.
· Updated construction programme for the installation of permanent infrastructure works. The permanent infrastructure works involve a limited number of traffic movements and may be extended over several years. It does not overlap with the main event set up and therefore will have a minimal effect on the external road network.
Conclusions:
· Both the original assessment and this one in respect of peak flows have used trip figures which have been uplifted by 20% to allow for a contingency. This assessment has also used a higher peak flow rate.
· In terms of the overall assessment, the findings of the Environmental Statement do not change.
· In terms of mitigation, the updated TMP confirms that appropriate mitigation measures can be implemented.
· As with all previous events for T in the Park, a traffic subgroup is formed 6 months prior to each event to produce a final TMP. The sub group includes representatives from Perth and Kinross Council, Police Scotland, Transport Scotland and Emergency Services. The draft TMP which was produced in the Environmental Statement is still evolving in response to public comments and ticketing information.
For further detail the updatedTMP is attached as Appendix 2 of the Addendum on the Find Out More section of our TLocal website.
2.ECOLOGY
PKC and SNH requested further information regarding the mitigation proposed for the protected species on the site, in the form of Species Protection Plans for Otter, Bats and Red Squirrel.
Updated Information provided:
· Updated survey information was provided and Species protection Plans submitted which sets out the nature of the issues for each species, what actions are proposed to address them, and explain how they will satisfy the legal requirements either for avoidance of disturbance or for licensing purposes.
Otter
· It is confirmed that, as a result of further monitoring, the potential holt identified in the ES is not in current use by otter. The hole is unsuitable for otter as the entrance is very narrow and the cavity itself is too small. A licence from SNH in relation to disturbance to otters at the location is not required.
· Management contained within the provided Otter Species Protection Plan addresses the possibility that new resting places/holts may be found in subsequent years and identifies what actions will be taken. The Plan includes the potential for otter to benefit from the installation of an artificial holt.
· The Addendum also corrected mislabelling of previous drawings showing high flood water levels for wildlife corridors under the temporary bridges and culverts. All bridges drawing now correctly illustrate that the wildlife corridor is above the high water level.
Bats
· A follow up survey of all trees with Bat Roost Potential (BRP) within the main disturbance zones was undertaken which included ground and aerial (climb & Inspect) surveys.
· Twelve (12) roosts have been found in a total out of over 200+ trees with BRP. Seven (7) roosts were found in the Arena area and four (4) on North Castle Drive, (which is not intended to be used for event traffic). Only one suspected pipistrelle maternity-roost was found, located within Strathallan Castle
· A series of measures are set out in a Bat Protection Plan which include proposed blocking of roosts, future monitoring requirements, lighting mitigation measures, license application protocols, and the potential for establishing artificial roosts in areas which are less vulnerable to disturbance. The Bat Protection Plan will be integrated with the site construction management plan (CMP) and the Event Environmental Management Plan (EMP)to ensure that site staff adhere to relevant protocols following advice from the Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW).
· Licence applications for temporary disturbance will be made for confirmed roosts.
· Monitoring will take place on the suspected maternity roost within Strathallan Castle each month between April –July 2015, at the request of the SNH Licensing Officer.
Red squirrel
· Three survey visits during February and March 2015 were carried out on the 14 potential red squirrel dreys identified in the ES. Many of these were confirmed to be either old buzzard nests or collapsed structures indicating no current use. Only six of the structures appeared to be dreys due to their size, shape and the presence of leaves within the structure.
· Of the six dreys it is still not possible to confirm if these are red squirrel or grey squirrel. no signs of use have been seen in the surveys. A red squirrel was seen approximately 20m from one drey but was not seen using it.
· Using the precautionary principle, the site layout has been adjusted so that works areas are outwith the recommended disturbance zones for dreys in North Mains Wood and in Bernie Wood. In one location in Bernie Wood it has not been possible to reconfigure the site to remain entirely outwith a 50m buffer where the works area comes to within 35m. In this location the canopy of a large tree will remain overhanging the works area and provide a screening function. 2m Heras fencing will be in place at the 35m mark at the edge of the wood and will also screen noise associated with the adjacent pedestrian pathway.
· Conservation/steel-shield fencing will be erected bounding the woodland blocks in which some of the dreys are located. However this will not involve heavy construction and the potential disturbance risk is considered negligible. As a precaution an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) will be present at the installation of fencing in these areas to provide induction talks to site staff.
· No dreys are within 100m of potential disturbance from significant noise sources.
· Grey squirrel have been seen behind the Castle during surveys. DFC will liaise with SNH and other organisations such as Scottish Squirrels and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, to explore the feasibility of undertaking a Grey Squirrel control programme.
Badger
· Follow up survey has confirmed that there are no signs of current use by badger of the sett-hole identified in the ES. Notwithstanding, the wildlife corridor provided for badger as a precautionary measure under the forestry access track of the wood will remain in situ as a precautionary measure. It will afford access above the 0.5% flood level.
Conclusions:
The focus of this additional information has been on the proposed mitigation of protected species by the development of a series of Species Protection Plans and further information to support potential disturbance licenses, where applicable. The follow up surveys have acted to reduce the potential impacts assessed for otter, red squirrel and badger.
3.ORNITHOLOGY
The Osprey which has been nesting in close proximity to the site, and which has the potential to be disturbed by the festival, has only been publically raised as a matter of concern by a small number of vocal and organised objectors. Even though RSPB is a non-statutory consultee, they have been given trusted advisor status and have been kept continuously up to date with the ongoing bird monitoring results and the osprey relocation strategy.
Updated Information provided:
· A draft Osprey Management Plan (OMP)was put forward in the ES to demonstrate the range of options available to DFC. Given the differing expert opinions being provided to DFC, it was considered advisable to agree the alternative mitigation approaches with all relevant authorities (SNH, RSPB, PKC and others) by setting up a proposed Osprey Working Group. However RSPB and PKC did not wish to participate in this group.
· Therefore at the request of PKC, DFC has finalised the OMP. DFC propose to undertake a relocation programme for the Osprey. On 5th February 2015 a site visit was conducted and a suitable tree identified by Mr Brockie outwith the site which was built on 13th March.
· Ongoing monitoring of both the new nest and the old nest are occurring.
Other species
· There is no evidence or records of Red Kite, Barn Owl or ground nesting birds breeding on the site.
· Ongoing monitoring of bird species once the breeding season has commenced (April) will occur. Early monitoring of some species is already ongoing.
· Compensatory habitat in terms of wildflower meadows for any potential habitat loss of ground breeding birds is possible in suitable areas away from potential disturbance,
Conclusions :
· The ES assessed the impacts on Osprey at the conservation status / population level at a worse case, namely it assumed that an Osprey pair would nest in the current nest location each year, and that while there is a high likelihood of short term adverse impact, and that the impacts may not be reversible, the adverse effect on the broader conservation status of the Osprey are assessed as minor.
· The draft Osprey Management Plan (OMP) was developed to address the specific need to protect the pair of Osprey on site under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA). However it is important to note that the success or not of the OMP would make no difference to the conclusions of the ES.
4.WATER MANAGEMENT/PRIVATE WATER SUPPLIES
There has been a significant amount of misinformation which has been publically aired regarding the nature of the groundwater environment and the source of private water supplies. All of it is factually incorrect.
Updated Information provided :
· The ES assessed that the Tullibardine Spring source is located significantly far away and upgradient of the site to not be impacted by the event. This conclusion was supported by SEPA in their letter of 13th February 2015.
· The private water supplies on the Strathallan site are supplied via a pipe network. These pipes are pressurised, are at relatively shallow depth, and totally isolated from the underlying superficial aquifer (located at 7+m).
· Further investigations into the Strathallan Private Water supply have discovered that the source of the supply is located further offsite (1.6km) than previously considered in the ES.
· These investigations have therefore completely removed the risk that there is any potential for the contamination of the PWS. There is no possibility of this supply becoming contaminated as a consequence of the event. There is therefore no rationale for water quality monitoring or a contingency water supply of the PWS.
· Mitigation has been proposed as a precautionary measure to prevent surface runoff to the well head for the deep aquifer bore (>30m) developed to supply Bernie Farmhouse (Bernie House) and Kinkell Grange.
· The site pipe network across the site is located in areas which will not be subject to heavy traffic and was previously considered when assessing the potential impacts of disturbance caused by the installation of the event water supply network, data cabling and access tracks.
Conclusions:
· There has been no change to the conclusions of the ES and there is no risk to the local water supply
5.NOISE
Updated Information provided in the Addendum
· The current policies, guidance and standards which recommend an assessment of noise levels with windows open are not intended to apply to temporary events, rather to planning and development for new permanent noise sources or the introduction of new noise sensitive development. This is why extraordinary events generally operate under an entertainment license.
· Noise from build and break traffic, operational traffic and use of the car parks and PUDO were originally assessed on the basis that windows are closed because each of these noise sources constitutes short term, temporary and reversible effects.