BBC travel presenter Paul Murton has thrown his weight behind a campaign to halt plans for a quarry extension near a Scottish World Heritage site.
Murton, who walked to New Lanark from the Borders for his walking series Grand Tours of Scotland, has branded building materials giant Semex's proposed extension near the tourist attraction as nothing less than vandalism.
He added it would "irreparably damage" the beautiful setting which includes waterfalls.
Murton, who grew up in Argyll, said: "The walk from the historic village of New Lanark, up to the spectacular Falls of Clyde is one I've enjoyed sharing with my kids for many years. It's a beautiful stravaig through Scotland's rich cultural history, and makes the perfect setting for a very special world heritage site. But all this is now threatened by plans to extend a quarry operated by the multinational cement company Cemex.
"If plans to extend the nearby quarry go ahead, they will desecrate the Falls of Clyde, and irreparably damage the beautiful setting of a uniquely important world heritage site."
The presenter is the latest high-profile figure to come out against the scheme.
Polymath Alasdair Gray said he was appalled by plans to extend the quarry. The Lanark author said: "It cannot be this is the only location for the minerals they want.
"I can only think they want it because they can get it comparatively cheaply and with considerable ease of access."
Semex – headquartered in Mexico – came under pressure yesterday as it emerged environmental agencies in the UK and Americas have taken action against it more than 40 times. The bodies got involved after claims company sites contaminated waters with waste, released a pollutant linked to acid rain and child health defects without proper permits.
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