Local residents and farmers are opposing the RSPB backed re-introduction of beavers to Loch Lomond and its environments.

The Kilmaronock Community Council held a special meeting to discuss their reintroduction and 80% of attendees opposed the return of the river mammal. Despite four presentations by RSPB, which is applying for a license to translocate beavers to the park, locals at the meeting were failed to be convinced that it was a good idea.

The community council felt there was need for a wider consultation and that there may be conflict with other social and environmental activity by such a re-introduction, and that many questions remained without answer. The 65 attendees were made up of locals, Loch Lomond National Park Association, Nature Scotland, RSPB, Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust, Stirling Council, Montrose Estates and Drymen community council.

Read more: More beavers – but not at any cost to farmers

Community council member, David Scott Park, who also farms at Portnellan farm, said: “I went to Blairgowrie to look at the damage on the Ericht. It was quite eye-opening seeing the damage done by the tunnels they dig.

"The holes are up to two foot in diameter and their works had caused 20m of river bank to flood when it was in spate. Raising the water table also stopped the drains and ditches from working.

“The question is, how much of an impact will they have in Loch Lomond. In the right place, beavers are absolutely fine, but in the wrong place they can damage infrastructure, even tunnelling under places like railways and the A9. We have islands in the loch which I worry could disappear if the beavers destroyed the trees which keep them in place.

“I don’t have a problem with re-introduction, or transocation of species, but there needs to be a proper management plan. I would argue that we have not had a proper consultation and some of the meetings seemed to be more about promoting beavers, as opposed to running a proper consultation.

“We have seen the damage done by sea eagles to sheep farms. We need to be assured we are not bringing problems in the park and potentially damaging sensitive species, such as fresh water mussels and wild Atlantic salmon.”

The meeting called for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the release of beavers in the lower Endrick and for RSPB and NatureScot to confirm what funds were available to compensate for mature riparian tree protection, riverbank repairs and crop destruction. There was also concern that the beavers could impact salmon stock levels.

Malcolm MacCormick, from the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust, told attendees there had been insufficient consultation to date and three of the previous meetings had been held when it was likely that people would be on holiday. He showed pictures of tree damage from River Earn caused by beavers.

There was also worry at the meeting that beavers, along with other animals, are known to carry zoonotic diseases such as giardiasis – a diarrheal disease caused by a microscopic parasite – which is transmitted via water and faeces. Infections had occurred in Tayside and as a zoonose, it also has human implications.

Local resident, Sally Page, who lives on low lying land around the River Aber, raised serious concerns about flooding impacting septic tanks in the area. There was particular concern that there was no direct answer on who would take care of any detrimental effects of damming the Aber downstream of the Gartocharn sewage works.

An RSPB spokesperson said: “In early October, we submitted a licence application to NatureScot for permission to move a small number of beavers to the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve. That is currently being considered.

"If approved, we will begin preparations for their arrival. We know from the engagement we completed prior to the application that there is support and excitement from many people about this, but that others have concerns. We addressed many of these during the engagement period but are continuing to talk with people who may still have concerns.”