Down in the sewer.

Photo shows first stage of £2 million upgrade of Castle Douglas sewage system.

This will pipe processed waste 3 miles to the river Dee.

This work has to be done to meet planning conditions imposed on Tesco, a 63 unit housing project (nearly completed) and a new health centre. The original cost was estimated (September 2004) at £500 000. But the original route of the pipeline ran through a Special Protected Area/ internationally important wetland.

Scottish Natural Heritage blocked this shorter (1.5 miles) route. A new, more expensive route was proposed in early 2005. Did the need to have Tesco on board (developers are paying for the sewage upgrade) to meet the extra cost influence the decision to approve their supermarket? No-one knows.