Residents living close to the Aberdeen bypass construction have sent an open letter to their MSPs raising concerns over the safety of “severely threatened” natural species being caught up in the works.
The Deeside locals wrote to seven north-east MSPs, calling for them to raise the issue of silt entering waterways and affecting fish and crustaceans such as the Atlantic salmon and muscles.
The signatories of the letter were Dave Cutteridge , Henry Irvine Forescue, Carolyn Morrison, Roger Murray and Prof Anthony Hawkins, former head of the Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen.
SEPA has launched an investigation into the run-off, but Prof Hawkins said last night inadequate drainage had been prepared by road planners, leading to the AWPR creating “separate rivers” around construction areas.
He added: “The main problem is that the run-off of water from the road is resulting in heavy quantities of silt entering the local watercourses whenever it rains.
“This then enters the various tributaries of the Dee and the River Dee itself .
“Silt can be very harmful to protected species of fish, like the Atlantic salmon, which are currently migrating upriver to their spawning grounds.
“Later in the year, the silt will smother the salmon eggs that are laid within gravel in the lower reaches of the river.”
A joint statement issued by Conservative MSPs Alexander Burnett, Alex Johnstone and Ross Thomson said: “The concerns of local residents about the drainage system and the impact on the River Dee and its tributaries have been put forward in a detailed, evidence-based manner.
“They deserve to be addressed by the project partners at the highest level.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “The contractor, Aberdeen Roads Limited, has voluntarily stopped its construction works to focus its efforts on improving the mitigation measures in place.
“The contractor is currently identifying and implementing a programme of remedial work and is in regular dialogue with SEPA throughout this process.
“We understand that SEPA will continue with its investigation into water run-off from the construction site while these works are underway. We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and are supporting SEPA in its investigation.
“We will also continue to work with the contractor to secure watercourses across the site and to enable construction works to continue at the earliest opportunity.”