SCOTTISH Borders Council has not been consulted over plans to release lynx into neighbouring Northumberland.

In July, the conservation charity The Lynx UK Trust submitted an application to Natural England for permission to carry out a trial introduction of the medium-sized wild cats into Kielder Forest.

If a licence is granted, six Eurasian lynx – four females and two males – will be released into the forest for a five year period, during which they will wear satellite collars to allow their movements to be monitored.

It is the first time such a bid has been made in the UK for a species which became extinct in this country in the 17th century: a victim of fur hunting and loss of habitat.

The trust claims this absence has contributed to an overpopulation of its favourite prey – roe deer – and that reintroduction into Northumberland could be a major boost to tourism.

“The charismatic cats can be major drivers for rural economies with the potential to bring tens of millions of pounds of tourism money into the Kielder region,” stated a recent trust press release which also claimed there had been widespread consultation with local communites and businesses ahead of the licence application.

At last week’s full council meeting Councillor Stuart Bell (SNP) wanted to know if the council had been consulted.

“I ask because Kielder is directly adjacent to the Borders,” said Mr Bell. “These animals can roam over a significant territory and there are mixed messages about the impact their release would have on livestock farmers and on the general public out in our countryside.”

Councillor Tom Myers (Con), executive member for planning and environment, told him: “It will for Natural England to determine what steps it takes in considering the licence application and it is understood they will consult with Scottish Natural Heritage [SNH].

“Scottish Borders Council has neither been informed nor consulted on this proposal by any party. Our officers have, however, contacted SNH to establish how the council and our local communities might contribute to this process.

“The Lynx UK trust indicates that no attacks on humans have been recorded by a healthy, wild Eurasian lynx anywhere in the world.

“It has also indicated a very low impact on livestock with lynx in Europe killing, on average, less than one sheep every two years.

“The council has not had an opportunity to check the veracity of these statements.”

Eurasian lynx have already been successfully reintroduced in Germany, France and Switzerland although the bulk of the estimated 10,000 are in Scandinavia.

The Eurasian lynx, a strict carnivore, is the third largest predator in Europe after the brown bear and the grey wolf.