River users win over hydro plan

Jul 4 2006 Andrew Welsh

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a £5 million renewables scheme in Highland Perthshire are set to be thrown out by councillors tomorrow.

Canoeists and ramblers look to have successfully lobbied the council to block the proposals, despite locals being behind the plans.

Members of Perth and Kinross Council’s development control committee will be asked to lodge an objection to proposals submitted by Stanley-based RWE NPower, who are seeking permission to construct and operate a hydro-electric generating scheme at the River Braan between Dunkeld and Trochry.

With a 3.4-megawatt capacity, the scheme would generate up to 11 gigawatts a year – enough to supply the domestic needs of up to 2500 households – with all power from water collected at the Rumbling Bridge site connecting directly into the local distribution grid.

However, a report compiled by the council’s development standards head Ian Sleith has recommended councillors protest on grounds of the project’s potentially adverse impact on the surrounding area’s recreational, environmental, landscape and visual amenity interests.

Because the proposed development is over one megawatt in output, the Scottish Executive are likely to convene a public inquiry if members block the plans.

The developers, who have the backing of local residents and Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council, insist that the area’s ecology would not be disturbed.

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) compiled by NPower shows that a site adjacent to an existing forestry track, approximately 500 metres upstream of Hermitage Falls, has been earmarked for the erection of a powerhouse.

However, the EIA stresses that the popular tourist attraction and historical heritage site west of Dunkeld would not be affected by the scheme, which would take 18 months to build.

“The section of the river that would be affected by the proposed scheme is not considered to be particularly sensitive for fish species of conservation concern,” said the EIA.

“There is the potential for some adverse impact on stocked salmon smolts and parr. The scheme will operate in a manner that will not result in any long term significant effects on stocks.

“Effects on some habitats of moderate nature conservation value will be unavoidable, in particular willow-birch carr, due to habitat disturbance form the construction of the pipeline.

“However, longer term significant effects can be avoided through the careful restoration of these habitats.

“No significant residual effects on any protected species are predicted.”

The EIA describes the overall effect on ecological interests as “no greater than slight adverse in the long term”.

Located mostly underground, a one-kilometre-long pipeline would be routed through grazing land, avoiding sensitive broad-leaved woodland areas, and an existing overhead powerline will be upgraded.

The applicants claim the scheme would create employment opportunities for local residents during construction, and a limited number of longer term jobs.

NPower would set up a community trust fund to help pay for upgrades to a visitor car park at the picturesque Falls of Braan and the creation of woodland footpaths.

Dubbed the “mad mile” by canoeists, the Braan is a prime site for competitions.

Mr Sleith’s report reveals that the council received 111 “impassioned” letters of objection to the proposals, mainly from water sports enthusiasts in the UK, Switzerland, North America, Australia and New Zealand, who have raised concerns about a possible fall in water levels, cutting canoeing days.

Objections from sportscotland and the Scottish Canoe Association have covered further issues such as safety issues for canoeists and a departure from local plan policies.

The Ramblers Association submitted a letter claiming the proposals would lead to a considerable diminishing of water volume over the Rumbling Bridge Falls.

However, local residents have written to support the scheme, claiming it would have less of an environmental impact than windfarms proposed for the area.

In his appraisal of the application, Mr Sleith acknowledges the site’s importance to canoeists and urges councillors to lodge an objection.

“It is clear from the comments received that the River Braan is held in high esteem by the various individuals and groups that use the river for recreational and sporting purposes,” he said.

“The numerous water sports enthusiasts are genuine in their concerns that the development will affect current water usage levels to the detriment of their sporting pursuits, which by its very nature, can only take place at certain locations.”

“While the efforts of the applicant have to be commended in trying to overcome areas of concern raised by officers, there can be no question that the construction of the hydro-electric generating station will affect river flows to a significant level in terms of the natural scenic beauty and sporting resource presently enjoyed by locals and visitors to the area.

“The potentially damaging effects of the scheme to the immediate environment and surrounding designated landscapes area, combined with revenues generated from the wider tourism economy outweigh any contribution the development may have in terms of energy.

“Accordingly, I am of the opinion that the proposals are not suited in any form to the environmentally and culturally sensitive stretch of river and therefore the precautionary, status quo principle should be applied in this instance.”

awelsh@s-un.co.uk