July 2011 - Aerial spraying behind Ardentinny

For those of you who regularly read this site, you will already be aware that aerial spraying took place over Ardentinny, for the second year running, in July of this year. This happened without any apparent forewarning, despite an undertaking from Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) last year that notice of any future aerial spraying would be communicated to the public, in advance. Consequently Ardentinny.org contacted FCS and there ensued various correspondence, all reported here, regarding whose responsibility it was to inform the public and who had done what, in that regard. Two of our site visitors were kind enough to supply evidence of what was required by law in England and Wales and we checked with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and it confirmed that the rules regarding signage also applied in Scotland.

FCS then provided information supplied by the helicopter company, MFH Helicopters Ltd., who undertook the spraying, which said that warning signs had been posted but could give no further detail (see Aerial spraying – the future). As we were invited to deal directly with Mr. Hawkings-Byass of MFH Helicopters, we did so on 27 September, 2011 asking if his company retained the data required in their Aerial Application Certificate which was detail of the company’s procedures for the provision and positioning of warning signs within 60m of the land to be treated so as to warn pedestrians, drivers and others of the activity. In addition we asked: How many signs were posted; when they were posted, the wordage of the signs; and their exact location, preferably with map co-ordinates. Mr. Hawkings-Byass responded to say that he would reply to our questions on 3rd October. On hearing nothing further, on 11th October we wrote to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requesting said information, in the knowledge that it is one of their requirements when issuing the appropriate license.

On 14 October we received the following response from MFH Helicopters Ltd:

I apologise for the delay in replying but I have been away. I am sorry that I am not able to produce much more information than I have already. As I have stated already we are not obliged to keep records of where and when signs are posted. All our ground vehicles carry such signs.

Since the regulation was introduced, open access has required us to re-evaluate the measures we take with regard to 3rd parties and these will be particular to each location and its relevant circumstances.

Kind regards,

Nicholas Hawkings-Byass

and on the 26th October we received the following response from the CAA:

MFH Helicopters are granted their annual Aerial Application Certificate on the basis of a number of items including an Operations Manual that states how the spraying operations are to be conducted. In compiling this manual the guidance in our CAA publication CAP 414“The Aerial Application Certificate” is followed, which states,amongst other things, how warnings should be posted to nearby residents etc. I can confirm that the MFH Operations Manual does contain instructions to its crews to post warning notices on public roads and footpaths within 60m of the boundary of the land to be treated.

The CAA carry out an annual inspection (audit) of the field operations of Aerial Application Certificate holders including MFH. The most recent inspection took place in July of this yea rand there were no findings that would have justified suspending MFH’s certificate.

I understand that you are having a constructive dialogue with MFH in order to ensure that the warning signs are posted where they can be readily seen and fulfil their purpose. If the warning sign system is not proving effective we would reasonably expect MFH to use additional media(websites/local liaison etc)to ensure fair warning is given and the local effected local populace are aware of what is taking place.

Regards,

Lawrence Hay

Encouraged by the CAA’s approach to ‘ensuring fair warning is given and the local effected populace are aware of what is taking place’ we asked if the CAA would communicate this to HMF Helicopters as, apart from Community Council members, it seemed that neither the local residents, nor the general public visiting the village on the day the spraying took place, were aware of it and that hill and forest walkers at the time reported they saw no warning signs. On 1 November, 2011 we received this response from Mr. Lawrence Hay of the CAA:

I will discuss the use of additional media with MFH and they were copied in on my last e-mail to you. I am having a regular dialogue with MFH on the future of aerial spraying as this has been under threat due to various EU decisions. The UK is seeking to continue having aerial application of asulox/asulam as an option since its only present use here is for this type of conservation work. The use of helicopters is regarded as less invasive in remote environmentally sensitive areas (typically rural hill sites and moors) because they do not have to use tracks and paths or leave a surface ‘footprint’.

I note that the Community Council did not have the opportunity to pass on information to the residents of Ardentinny and that some of the posted signs were missed. From my dealings with other operators, this problem of communication is one of the hardest to get right especially as they are at the sites for a very brief time; it may well be that some of the places that signs are posted are not the same places that would be obvious to those with local knowledge.

It would help if a local liaison point/person were established so that prior to operations, critical information could be passed on to the right people and the benefit of local knowledge obtained.

Regards,

Lawrence Hay

While the lack of forewarning of spraying, which should include the name of the substance being employed, has been our main concern, it is interesting to note that the chemical used appears to be of concern on many fronts, though perhaps for different reasons. However, it is heartening to see that there is a will to overcome past failures to forewarn the public and to ensure that this does not recur.

Related links:

Asulam (Wikipedia)
ASULOX UPDATE Oct 2011 (MFH Helicopters)
MFH Bracken Control Brochure 2011 (MFH Helicopters)
CAA Aerial Application Certificate
SEPA: Bracken Control – A Guide to Best Practice
Bracken Eradication (The Scottish Government)
Bracken & Asulox FAQ (MFH Helicopters)
Asulam Voted for Non Approval (Sept. 2011 – United Phosphorus Ltd)
Asulox supplies (Oct. 2011 – United Phosphorus Ltd)
Asulox ban a blow to Scottish farmers – Lyon (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
Uplands protest over ban on bracken spray (The Guardian)
Farmers urged to act over bracken control agent asulam (Farmers Guardian)

Related posts:

1. Aerial spraying – the future As aerial spraying has taken place in Ardentinny on two...
2. No warning of aerial spraying – again! (updated Aug. 1) As local residents will have seen on Tuesday (26 July),...
3. Japanese knotweed spraying The Forestry Commission has confirmed that the chemical spraying signage...

As aerial spraying has taken place in Ardentinny on two occasions in as many years without apparent forewarning to residents and visitors, Ardentinny.org has tried to ascertain what should happen should spraying take place in the future.

Following up on the information provided by two of our site visitors regarding the need for signage when aerial spraying is taking place, we contacted SEPA to clarify what regulations are in force in Scotland. We received a reply from Gayle Howard, their Media Officer – Communications who said she had checked with her colleagues in their land unit and that they had confirmed that the regulations do apply in Scotland and that it is a legal requirement that signs be erected.

We subsequently copied this to Russell Lamont of Forestry Commission Scotland, inviting comment. On the 12th September Russell Lamont replied saying that the helicopter team concerned had been consulted and that they had responded saying that appropriate measures to exclude the public from the spraying area were taken and this included the posting of signs. We followed this up requesting the following:

- How many signs were posted?
- When the signs were posted.
- The wording of the signs.
- Where the signs were located (map coordinates).

On 30th September Russell Lamont provided us with this response from Nicholas Hawkings-Byass of MFH Helicopters Ltd.:

‘I am afraid the question you have asked I cannot answer with any further accuracy since we are not obliged nor would we see any need to keep such records of where such signs are posted or alternative measures that may be taken. Please also bear in mind that after nearly 25 years of aerial spraying this is the first time that such information has been asked of us. I do not know the reason behind this request for information but if it is based on concerns with Asulam and aerial spraying then I would be more than happy to address these directly.’

It is our understanding that the aerial spraying company when applying for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Aerial Application Certificate should detail the company’s procedure related to warning signs:

’5.1.11 Warning Notices
The manual should detail the company’s procedures for provision and positioning of warning signs required to be placed within 60 m of the land to be treated so as to warn pedestrians, drivers and others of the activity.’

As Mr. Hawkings-Byass offered to deal directly with our enquiries, we wrote to him on 27 September and have received a response saying he will deal with the matter on Monday 3rd October. We continue to copy all correspondence on this issue to Russell Lamont of Forestry Commission Scotland and will report any further findings here.

Related posts:

1. Aerial Spraying – CAA acknowledges communication difficulties For those of you who regularly read this site, you...
2. No warning of aerial spraying – again! (updated Aug. 1) As local residents will have seen on Tuesday (26 July),...
3. The future of a village hall. The future of a community. On Friday 15th October a Public Meeting was held to...

As local residents will have seen on Tuesday (26 July), a helicopter was spraying the hills above Ardentinny forest. A similar operation was carried out in August last year. At that time Russell Lamont, the FCS Environment Manager, assured us that the community would be advised of future spraying operations. Unfortunately this did not happen.

Cowal & Trossachs Forestry Director, Gordon Donaldson has informed us that FCS had been contacted regarding the spraying but was unsure as to whether the contact was made by David Marshall or the contractor carrying out the work.

Gordon Donaldson said “When the contact was made the date and time of the work was not known as this is dependent on the weather, however Russell reminded them to contact the local community and other departments to keep them informed. Unfortunately, from your contact and the number of calls we fielded on the day, this has clearly not been done. I have made contact with David by email informing him that in future he must do this”. He continued “I am sorry that contact has again not taken but can confirm that the work being done was similar to that outlined by Russell last year in his email contact with you then”.

Considering that the aerial spraying was undertaken on what was one of the hottest days so far, the likelihood of walkers being in the vicinity was very real. The lack of any advance notice to the community or any form of warning signage in the area is an issue of concern.

Update 1 August
We have today received the following correction from Gordon Donaldson, FCS:

Contrary to the supposition of my email to you, when I deduced from the number of calls we received about the spraying that community contact had not been made, I am now able to correct that position.

David Marshall has contacted me and he has informed me that both the Ardentinny and the Benmore and Kilmun CC’s were informed of the intention to spray, by email on the 12th July 2011. He also intimated to me that neither CC made any comment in response to the contact. In addition he confirmed that SEPA and the MOD were fully informed of the planned helicopter spraying.

I should also add that spraying of this kind is not effective in wet weather so any planned spraying needs to wait for a suitable weather window and therefore can not be set by date and time.

We have contacted Ardentinny Community Council inviting their comment on this issue.

Related posts:

1. Aerial Spraying – CAA acknowledges communication difficulties For those of you who regularly read this site, you...
2. Aerial spraying – the future As aerial spraying has taken place in Ardentinny on two...
3. Bling on the beach (updated) Residents of Ardentinny have long been aware that the village...

Related posts:

1. Injured eider duck found on Ardentinny beach This beautiful eider duck was found earlier this evening on...
2. Bling on the beach (updated) Residents of Ardentinny have long been aware that the village...
3. Ardentinny to Carrick Castle walk – LIVE coverage this Sunday! Phone signal permitting, we’ll be covering live Sunday’s community walk...

What you can do
Write to your local MSP here. A useful text template is available here.

Related posts:

1. Basking seal Grab shot of a basking seal today at Ardentinny....
2. Scottish Classic Racing at Ardentinny Sunday 6 June saw the annual Scottish Classic Racing Club...
3. Dunoon Observer confirms MoD responsible for lost ammo The leading article in this weeks Dunoon Observer has thrown...

Related posts:

1. Armed police raid local caravan site Armed police undertook a major operation this morning near Ardentinny....
2. West Coast Motors strives to reduce carbon footprint with 485 replacement… ...
3. Edinburgh Tattoo by Jim Robinson ...

Japanese Knotweed

Related posts:

1. Aerial Spraying – CAA acknowledges communication difficulties For those of you who regularly read this site, you...

1. The spraying is to control the spread of bracken.

2. The spraying is being undertaken on Forestry Commission ground, which is tenanted by Mr Marshall.

3. Product being applied  – Asulox.

4. As I have already indicated in this instance FCS were unaware of the operation prior to it being undertaken. If this operation takes place in the future we have indicated we must be informed. This information will be conveyed to the community.

12 Aug. We have received the following from Mr. Russell Lamont, Environment Manager, Cowal & Trossachs Forest District:

I understand you have been informed that the helicopter operations highlighted on your web site, dated 8th August, were being undertaken on behalf of David Marshall.

We were unaware of the work and temporarily suspended the operations until we were satisfied that all the relevant paperwork was in place. I can confirm all the necessary requirements have been met and we are content to allow the operations to continue.

I have been informed this may be as early as 13th August, depending on the weather.

8 Aug.  A helicopter (reg no. G-WEGO) could be seen over Cnap Reamhar (the hill behind Ardentinny village) on Sunday afternoon in what appeared to be aerial crop spraying. Hopefully the Forestry Commission will be able to provide us with more details on this shortly.

Related posts:

1. Aerial Spraying – CAA acknowledges communication difficulties For those of you who regularly read this site, you...
2. Aerial spraying – the future As aerial spraying has taken place in Ardentinny on two...
3. No warning of aerial spraying – again! (updated Aug. 1) As local residents will have seen on Tuesday (26 July),...

If you are planning to camp in the great outdoors, please respect the environment and take all your rubbish home with you.

Are you a responsible camper? Find out here.

Related posts:

1. Sizzling Sunday at Ardentinny Beach It may not have been the ideal weekend weather-wise for...
2. Second beach clean There was a second beach clean on Sunday 11 April...
3. Easter Beach Clean It was with no small amount of dedication, 10 volunteers,...

Related posts:

1. Sizzling Sunday at Ardentinny Beach It may not have been the ideal weekend weather-wise for...
2. Ardentinny opens its gardens The Shore Villages of Kilmun, Strone, Blairmore and Ardentinny this weekend...
3. New Village Hall Committee Appointed At the EGM held in the hall on 11 May...