Beach pollution action launched

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A businessman is suing two companies for £5.1m over beach pollution which he claims could cost millions of pounds to clean, BBC Scotland can reveal.

Gary Fraser, owner of Blackdog Salmon Fisheries, north of Aberdeen, is suing Shanks and WRG.

Blackdog beach is believed to have been contaminated by chemical waste seeping from a disused landfill site.

Mr Fraser also wants the companies to pay for the clean-up. He said the number of fish caught has slumped.

Drilling mud, a mixture of oil and chemicals, was dumped at the landfill site in the late 1980s and early 1990s when it was leased by Shanks and McEwan. The landfill operator is WRG.

Drilling mud was deposited after a ban was placed on dumping it at sea.

'Rectify situation'

Since then, tidal movements are said to have contaminated the beach.

Mr Fraser is launching his legal action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Shanks said in a statement: "Shanks will not comment on any legal proceedings. However we are working with WRG to rectify the situation at Blackdog."

WRG said it was aware of Mr Fraser's action, in which he has blamed the company for damage to his salmon fishing interests.

The company stated: "WRG understands that action is due to be formally lodged at the Court of Session in the next few days.

"WRG has appointed legal advisors in relation to the action and will be lodging defences in respect to both liability and quantum [costs]."