PLANS for two controversial fish farms in the waters off Cumbrae have resurfaced - with concerns that chemicals used at them will end up on beaches in Largs and Millport.

Applicants Dawnfresh Farming Ltd want permission for a new licence to operate marine Rainbow Trout farms off the north west coast of Wee Cumbrae and the Island of Great Cumbrae, north Millport.

The New CAR licence - which stands for Controlled Activities Regulations - will enable the company to operate a total of ten 120m circumference pens.

The application also seeks permission to use bath treatments Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin and Azamethiphos - but Fairlie Coastal Marine Group say these chemicals will pollute the waters around the north coast.

Dawnfresh say that modelling has been performed which shows the development will meet the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's environment quality standards.

David Nairn of the Fairlie Coastal group however says the plan will damage local coastlines and cause water quality to deteriorate.

He said: "This is a license to pollute the waters around North Coast, Cumbraes and Bute.

"The chemical dispersion modelling included in their SEPA application indicates that the neurotoxic chemicals will end up on popular beaches including Kames Bay and all along the Pencil and Largs Beach.

"The modelling shows various insecticides will be getting washed up on Kames Bay and further degrade the water quality at The Pencil. I think it is absolutely ridiculous.

"I would support onshore contained fish farming at Hunterston as a green venture but we have to call an end to open cage salmon farming. It is crazy it is being done in a tourism town and will pollute two of the busiest beaches in North Ayrshire. It will also have consequences for the oyster restoration projects we are planning."

Councillor Tom Marshall, who is head of the North Ayrshire planning committee, said: "A fish farm near Arran was refused previously by the council under delegated powers and then refused on appeal to the planning review committee at North Ayrshire Council, so there is a precedent."

Councillor Ian Murdoch said: "I am totally against this. Largs, Cumbrae, West Coast and Bute are parts of the Coig tourism drive and we have one of Scotland's premier marinas."

Councillor Alan Hill also voiced his opposition, adding: "I am also totally against this and I am happy to join a campaign to fight it."

In 2019 Dawnfresh told the News that the fish farm project would create almost 25 new posts through an £8m plan to create two new fish farms in the area.

This week, environmental manager for the firm, Peter MacDougall, said: “The consultation on the CAR license is the latest technical stage in the long process required for approval of a new fish farm and builds on previous events and consultations with local people.

"In order to satisfy the CAR licensing requirements and SEPA, significant additional work was required to provide modelling that was as detailed and comprehensive as possible to accurately predict the impact of these sites on the marine environment.

"After detailed, and rigorous discussions with SEPA, they have accepted the modelling which forms the basis for our license application. Should the CAR license be granted by SEPA, we would then move to consider submitting a planning application to North Ayrshire Council which would, of course, include a full Environmental Impact Assessment and extensive consultation to hear the views of local people.”

The SEPA consultation closes on May 31 and can be accessed through their website.