Protests at beauty spot hydro scheme

Fears over possible effects on woodland

Two influential groups have objected to a company’s bid to build a hydro scheme in one of the most scenic parts of Highland Perthshire.

Highland Eco-Design wants to build its Littleton Burn system in the Tay Forest Park, south-west of Blair Atholl. but the Woodland Trust and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have both lodged objections.

The project would involve two intake weirs and an underground pipeline leading to a turbine house west of Inchmagrannachan.

In a design statement applicant Leanne Whitelaw says it represents “a rare opportunity to harvest clean, renewable energy within the national forest estate”.

The Forestry Commission Scotland-managed park is used for a range of recreational activities at the moment such as cycling, horseriding and camping.

Ms Whitelaw insists the scheme will have no impact on these activities once it is complete.

But she concedes its creation will “inevitably have a temporary negative impact on the site with sediment traps, access routes, equipment and excavation works spread across the site over six to nine months.”

Catherine de Vries of the Woodland Trust told council planners: “This construction work is likely to cause major disturbance to the ancient woodland, in particular the soils.

“From the available plans it appears that the pipeline will be installed over a distance of approximately 2km.

“Given that the pipeline will be installed by a cut-and-cover method and that there will inevitably be disturbance on either side of the pipeline, this adds up to a significantly large area of LEPO (long-established woods of plantation origin) woodland being affected.”

She concludes: “Ancient and long-established woodland is irreplaceable. Once lost it cannot be recreated.

“Any development resulting in damage or loss to these precious habitats is inappropriate and must be avoided at all costs.

“In summary, the Woodland Trust objects to planning permission being granted due to the potential loss and damage to ancient LEPO woodland.

“We consider that these impacts are unacceptable and contravene both national and local planning policy.”

Silvia Cagnoni-Watt of SEPA complained: “No clear information has been provided within the application regarding the potential for peat to be present at the application site.

“No reference to peat volumes to be extracted was found.

“However, reference to the dominance of peat-based ground conditions was found in reference to badgers.”

She added: “We could not find clear indication of borrow pit locations in the information provided.

“We require detailed investigations in relation to the need for and impact of such facilities to be contained in the environment statement or planning submission.”

The consultation period on the application has now ended and the applicant will probably have to respond to SEPA’s objection before it can progress any further.

Ancient and long-established woodland is irreplaceable