Aberfeldy Birks hydro plan to be subject to negotiation

Feb 26 2010 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

RESIDENTS yesterday welcomed a decision to put a hydro power scheme on hold in Highland Perthshire.

Developers had hoped to strike a deal to lease land at the world-famous Birks o’ Aberfeldy as part of the controversial Urlar Burn run-of-river project – but were foiled by councillors.

Members of Perth and Kinross Council’s Aberfeldy common good fund committee knocked back a bid from adjoining landowner Donald Ogilvy-Watson to acquire rights from the council to site part of the infrastructure at the Birks.

The local laird had been chasing a 99-year lease that would have netted the common good fund an annual rental fee based on a percentage of the income he received for electricity generation.

Councillors rejected the proposal until negotiations can be carried out over the possibility of a shorter lease.

They also want to see a valuation report put together to assess how much the fund would receive from the scheme each year and a tourism impact study.

PKC’s property head Russell Thomson had asked the committee to either reject the proposal outright or agree it in principle and instruct him to negotiate detailed terms.

Aberfeldy Community Council vice-chairman Eric Slorence led a formal protest against the 99-year lease, insisting the developers’ estimate of £42,000 per year in rent for the community was over the top.

Highland ward councillor Ian Campbell’s motion calling for investigations was narrowly pushed through by three votes to two, despite committee members Ian Miller and George Hayton wanting the power scheme to be completely ditched.

Aberfeldy-based Green Highland Renewables hope to construct the scheme on Mr Ogilvy-Watson’s behalf.

The firm plans to divert waters along the old Aberfeldy water supply to a power station at the lower Birks. Water would return to the Moness Burn at a cost of up to £2.5million, with annual income of up to £290,000 expected.

Despite the blow to his firm’s plans, GHR’s Neil Fraser insisted the scheme could still supply power for 1000 homes.

“We will be happy to address the various issues that have been raised and we’re confident there will be a positive resolution,” he declared.