The row over T in the Park’s move to Strathallan Castle took a bizarre twist on Wednesday when police were called out because of a “suspicious” vehicle spotted near an osprey nest.
Festival organisers DF Concerts are building a new osprey nest after concerns were raised that the festival would disturb a nest used by two ospreys near the site.
Police received an anonymous call on Wednesday morning after a cherry picker was spotted near the original nest.
The Strathallan T Action Group claims that if the ospreys return to their original nest then the festival may not be able to go ahead because of a “buffer zone” that would need to be created to protect the birds.
A spokeswoman for the STAG told STV: “Strathallan’s ospreys, Earl and Countess, are due back any day now. We are extremely concerned that the estate has chosen this moment to begin their maintenance work and we are suspicious that they have chosen this precise section of what is a three-mile-long driveway.
“Why would a cherry picker be being used for road maintenance? Our concern is that this vehicle, which is currently parked very close to the existing nest, may be used either to remove the nest or to scare the ospreys away from it, should they return to it.”
Officers later traced the vehicle and discovered it was carrying out survey work for DF Concerts.
A spokeswoman for the T in the Park organisers accused STAG of wasting police time and taxpayers’ money.
She said: “This is an absurd accusation. How can we disturb something that is not there?
“We are a responsible company and take the protection of the osprey extremely seriously which is why our ornithologist, who is a leading expert in his field, is onsite every day awaiting the potential return of the birds to ensure their safety.
“Suggestions to the contrary are inaccurate, unhelpful and a total waste of police time and taxpayers’ money.”
Although tens of thousands of revellers are expected to attend this year’s T in the Park – which had to be moved from its previous home at Balado because of safety concerns – the festival does not yet have planning permission.
Perth and Kinross Council is expected to make a final decision in May.