REVELLERS camping at T in the Park this year could face dangerous flash floods unless the site is realigned, the environment watchdog has warned.
The quango Sepa - the Scottish Environment Protection Agency - says the festival's proposed new site on the Strathallan Castle estate, near Auchterarder, Perthshire could be vulnerable to sudden "convective rainfall events".
As a result, the agency has asked festival bosses to realign the planned campsite to higher ground.
DF Concerts is going through the planning process after moving Scotland's flagship music festival from its long-term former home at Balado, near Kinross, due to fears about the safety of a giant gas pipeline under the old site.
Sepa's response to the planning application states T in the Park may place participants at flood risk, contrary to Scottish planning policy.
If the local authority grants planning permission contrary to this advice on flood risk, the matter could be referred to Scottish ministers.
DF Concerts need to secure planning permission ahead of the first Strathallan festival in July, for which tickets have already been sold.
Sepa has made it clear it will review its objection if the problems it highlights is dealt with.
In a letter to Perth and Kinross Council it says: "We object to this planning application on the grounds of a lack of information relating to flood risk (as well as a request for the layout to be modified). We will review this objection if the issues ...are adequately addressed.
"It is particularly important due to the flashiness of the catchments as shown in previously recorded rainfall events."
The watchdog states several heavy summer rainfall events have occurred in the Strathearn area near the proposed site. During the most recent, on July 16 2011, 18mm of rain fell in just 15 minutes. On August 20 2000, 17.8mm of rain fell in 15 mins and and 30.5mm within the hour. Some 20.8mm of rain fell in an hour on July 16 2011.
Sepa recommends T in the Park relocates its campsite due to the danger of flash floods.
A T in the Park spokesman said: "We're currently in the middle of the consultation period for the planning application, which means that any individual, organisation or group can give feedback - making this an extremely robust and open process.
"When statutory consultees want conditions inserted into a planning application they have no choice but to raise them as an objection.
"In their letter, Sepa has specifically said they will revise their position if we adequately address their points - which we will.
"This is the norm for a planning process and we've always expected this, it would be highly unusual for any application to be rubber-stamped without conditions inserted, and of course they will require to be delivered."
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