ISLANDERS have accused Scottish Water of wasting taxpayers' money as it plans to decommission an £11.7 million sewage treatment system installed just seven years ago.

The company stands accused, by residents of the isle of Seil, of wasting taxpayers' money with the state-of-the-art sewage system, which was installed in 2008 against the community's wishes.

Now water bosses want to scrap that scheme, because it is too expensive to run, needing a steady stream of sludge emptying tankers and maintenance staff.

Locals are furious that water bosses want to splash out another £1.7m on capital costs for a new plan to cut maintenance expenditure, which is understood to be running at £100,000-£200,000 a year to serve 130 houses.

And there is outrage amidst claims that the new proposal would see the 500 strong community's partly treated sewage piped from one end of the island to the other, and dumped into the sea at a Special Area of Conservation.

Island doctor George Hannah said: "The scheme they put in was outrageously expensive and so is the running cost. It is a complete and utter waste of money, it is distressing how much money has been wasted. It was poorly thought out, an ill-conceived scheme."

But he said the new multi-million pound plan was not needed either and claimed that modern septic tanks, or small biological units, installed to serve small groups of houses, is all that is needed.

Around twelve houses in Seaview Terrace, Seil, remain unconnected to the sewage system.

A spokesman for Scottish Water said: "The provision of funding for Scottish Water to provide appropriate treatment for Seaview Terrace has presented an opportunity to take a strategic view of sewage treatment for the wider area.

"The strategic view is that a more sustainable treatment option for the island will represent a reduced whole life cost as well as being the correct and appropriate level of treatment for the particular SEPA designated watercourse.

"Scottish Water would be negligent if we didn't look towards the best, lowest whole life cost solutions for our assets."

Consultations on the new proposal are under way and the spokesman said: "Through the operation of the current membrane plant, actual operational costs have proved to be higher than originally forecasted. This is comprised of both energy and ongoing maintenance costs."