A SHOOTING hut in Jedburgh has been given the green light – despite concerns over its potential impact on protected species.

Scottish Borders Council has approved a retrospective planning application for a timber shooting hut from Lothian Estates Shooting Partnership on land west of Coldhaugh Bank in Jedburgh.

The hut is to be used as a rally point for shooting days where shooters meet, rest, have lunch and finish the event.

Dr Melanie Findlay objected to the hut on several grounds, including the lack of an ecological assessment, its impact on European protected species and its location at what was an “unspoilt and undeveloped reach of the Oxnam Water”.

Lisa McLeish, secretary of Scottish Wildlife Trust Central Borders Group, also highlighted concerns at the application, saying there were records of otters and badgers in the vicinity and that the work “appears to have been carried out within the breeding bird season”.

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She said: “We are disappointed that surveys were not carried out for protected species and that mitigation measures were not put in place.

“We request that mitigation measures must be undertaken, as well as otter surveys and a Habitats Assessment undertaken to inform mitigation.”

In his report recommending approval for the hut, Euan Calvert, the council’s assistant planning officer, said: “A business plan demonstrates a functional and operational need for the hut in this specific location. There is demonstration of employment generation.

“The building is intended as a lunch hut and is central to the surrounding game drives to reduce the need for additional travel by guests and employees.”