Council renews Nith clean-up bid

The council wants to clean part of the river in the centre of Dumfries

Scotland's environment minister is being asked to overturn a decision to block plans to clean up part of the River Nith in the centre of Dumfries.

Roseanna Cunningham is also being urged to visit the area before she rules on the proposals.

The local authority wants to clear gravel and silt from the Nith above the Caul waterfall.

But environment watchdog Sepa refused to approve the work amid concerns about the impact on the river habitat.

The council, which had put together a £200,000 funding package to carry out the dredging operation, is now set to challenge the decision by lodging an appeal with the Scottish Government.

The move was agreed by members of the planning, housing and environment committee, which wants Ms Cunningham to visit the site before considering the appeal.

The committee has also approved plans to carry out work to remove gravel islands downstream of the Caul.

Those proposals are for a tidal stretch of the river which is not subject to the same licensing requirements.