The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has revealed that it has waived over £1.5 million in fees in the past six months to aid struggling businesses.
In partnership with the Scottish Government, SEPA made the decision in November 2008 to cancel the usual fees for many environmental permits and agricultural and fish-farming licences, benefiting more than 5,000 businesses.
Under normal circumstances, SEPA charges businesses for a variety of actions that could impinge on the environment and human health. These include the discharge of pollutants, disposal of sheep dip, abstraction of water, use of septic tanks and subsistence of fallow sites in fish farming.
The 5,049 private businesses spared the charges include 1,600 sheep farmers (who saved an estimated total of £155,000) and 46 fish farmers (who retained £75,000).
“Many of the 5,000 customers SEPA has helped will be in rural industries such as agriculture and fish farming, which can be particularly vulnerable during tough economic times,” said Scottish Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham.
“The savings generated by SEPA will assist not only the businesses themselves but the communities and families they in turn support.
“Our economic recovery plan is focused on helping hard-pressed businesses through these difficult times. Every part of the public sector must do its bit to promote economic development and SEPA is to be commended for the huge role it has played so far.”
SEPA came up with a 10-point plan last November, after the Scottish Government asked public bodies for suggestions to ease the financial burden on businesses and stimulate growth in the current economic climate. The environment agency insists that waiving fees is part of a strategy that will benefit the environment as well as business in the long term.
The CEO of SEPA, Campbell Gemmell, said: “As Scotland's environment watchdog, we in SEPA want to protect the environment and enable business and industry to realise the many economic benefits of good environmental practice. Our 10-point plan to support economic activity during the current difficulties has already delivered real benefits for the Scottish economy.
“The application fee waiver scheme, just one element of the plan, has helped to keep thousands of pounds in the pockets of Scottish businesses. We are also already engaged in other major areas of work that both protect the environment and set the right conditions for sustainable economic growth, improving customer relationships and simplifying regulatory processes in Scotland.”
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