EXCLUSIVE

THE Harris superquarry inquiry has found the controversial project a double-edged sword: it could help revitalise the island but damage the environment.

Miss Gillian Pain, former chief inquiry Reporter at the Scottish Office, conducted the inquiry, the longest ever in Scotland, between October 1994 and June 1995.

She heard evidence from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Western Isles Council that the quarry planned by Redland Aggregates could be the key to reviving the economy on Harris, creating 100 or more jobs directly and at least the same again indirectly.

She also had to consider arguments from Scottish Natural Heritage and environmental groups that it could damage the environment and prevent alternative investment in Harris.

Miss Pain is expected to make her final recommendation to the Secretary of State later this summer, but The Herald has seen the first part of her report of more than 600 pages, which has never been published.

Extracts underline the balance of argument, and the difficulty of any final decision.

Miss Pain wrote: ''I find that the Western Isles in general, and Harris in particular, has experienced a marked population loss since the 1950s. The revitalisation of the community depends on the retention and attraction of people in the child-bearing age groups. The single most important factor causing out-migration is the lack of employment opportunities.

''I find that Harris's economic base is extremely limited, being heavily dependent on the service sector, with very small manufacturing sector ... in summary, although I find that there is the possibility of some expansion of existing businesses and further diversification, there can be no reliance that these will expand sufficiently to meet the demand for additional employment.

''Even if Redland forecasts (for direct and indirect jobs) are not fully achieved for some reasons, I find that there would be a very substantial benefit to the local economy ... I find that there should

be no difficulty in recruiting local workers to fill direct, indirect, and induced jobs generated by the development.''

She cited the Glensanda Quarry as having benefited the economy of North Argyll and Lochaber, and generated substantial spending on materials and services in Fort William and Oban.

Miss Pain said that, based on the experience of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, she found the superquarry would be likely to give a boost to small businesses and to create a climate of business enterprise, which would ultimately reduce dependence on it.

She accepted the tourist board's judgment that the quarry would generate demand for hotel accommodation and restaurants throughout the year and it was likely hotels would be upgraded in response to the increased demand. ''Even if the quarry had a negative effect on the tourist image of the islands, I would expect that in economic terms any consequent reduction in trade would be offset by the potential benefit described above.''

She also thought it unlikely Harris would be swamped with outsiders coming to work at Lingerbay.

However, Miss Pain found substance in many of the arguments put forward by the opponents, not least on its physical impact on environment in what has been designated a National Scenic Area (NSA).

''The quarry would be a major intrusion in a very significant section of the NSA ... The present remote, peaceful and traditional ensemble of a semi-natural and crofting agricultural environment would be disrupted by the intrusion of a man made excavation and associated quarry and harbour installations on an enormous scale ... altogether I find that this would have a very disruptive effect on the character of the area, affecting local residents, and possibly the potential for new business ventures.

''Accordingly, I find that there would be a very significant risk to the integrity of the Harris section of the NSA. The quarry would create an area of massive disturbance, involving man-made industrial features, heavy plant and disruptive noise, etc. ''Unless there are very exceptional compelling reasons to justify a departure from the guidelines, the acceptance of such an intrusive feature within such an important landscape would set a precedent that would undermine the continued successful operation of policies for NSAs.''

Miss Pain highlighted the possibility that the quarry could last longer than the proposed 60 years. She also accepted that there would be a detrimental botanical effect, particularly at Roineabhal with flora of international importance.

Worth pursuing? Page 11