Hundreds of people have signed an online petition calling for a Perthshire councillor to resign over comments he made about ospreys at this week’s T in the Park planning talks.
Tom Gray, who is convener of the development management committee, sparked anger when he suggested that ospreys at Strathallan Castle were “more powerful” than the 85,000 young music fans expected to attend the festival.
“I don’t know a single osprey to have topped itself because it had to move its nest,” he said.
Mr Gray, who backed a motion to approve planning consent for the summer show, added: “Scotland is a big place and we have more ospreys than we had 25 years ago.
“They were got rid of because people with fishing ponds didn’t like them around, because they stole all the fish.”
Protester Brett Skerry of Stirling launched a petition urging Mr Gray to resign and publicly apologise for what opponents regarded as a frivolous attitude towards the protected bird.
He said Mr Gray’s comments had “no place in public office or the decision-making process”.
Mr Gray stressed that he wasn’t against ospreys and the petition is an example of social media taking select quotes out of context.
“In such circumstances, if apologies or explanations are required, it is reasonable to suggest that they are due only to those who witnessed the original conversation,” he said.
Festival promoters won planning consent for their move to Strathallan Castle, despite concerns over the event’s impact on roads and wildlife.
Campaigners Strathallan T Action Group said they are not behind the petition.