Red Tape Strangling Green Action: Blue MSP
The approach being taken by SEPA to the proposed hydro scheme on the River Braan has caused Tory MSP Murdo Fraser to write expressing his concern to the Scottish Executive Deputy Enterprise Minister, Allan Wilson.
RWE Npower plc is seeking planning consent, and consent from SEPA under the Controlled Activities regulations, for a hydro scheme on the Braan upstream of Dunkeld. |
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Although opposed by canoeists, the application has gained general support in the local community. When Perth & Kinross Council’s Development Control Committee considered the application last year the vote was 10 to 2 in favour of the Council approving it.
SEPA has now indicated that it proposes to refuse consent to the application under the Controlled Activities regulations, on the grounds that there would be a significant adverse impact on canoeing, and also that the generation of renewable energy could be achieved in other means offering a significantly better environmental option.
Better Than Windfarms
Murdo Fraser said: “I know from my contact with many people living in the local area that the River Braan hydro scheme has a great deal of support. Certainly there are many in Strathbraan who see this as being a much better option in terms of renewable energy than the construction of large-scale windfarms, two of which are currently threatened for the same area.
“Given that Perth & Kinross Council had supported the scheme, I was dismayed to hear that SEPA was on the verge of scuppering it by refusing consent under the Controlled Activities regulations. I have therefore written to the Deputy Minister for Enterprise to highlight the problem.
Red Tape
“The question of consents for small-scale hydro schemes is one close to my heart and one which I have raised with the Minister on numerous previous occasions over a number of years. I feel very strongly that far too many barriers are put in the way of hydro developers.
“In many cases, hydro schemes are much more beneficial to the environment than large-scale wind developments and certainly have substantially less visual intrusion. They also tend to attract much wider public support. However, we will not be fulfilling our renewable energy potential as a nation unless we are prepared to see some of the unnecessary red tape preventing such developments progressing cut through.
“I do intend to pursue this issue with the Minister as I believe it is a vital one for the future of Scotland’s energy needs.”
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