Hydro charge an extra tax burden

SIR, – Miss Nancy Nicholson’s article (Farming, November 11) indicates that rural businesses may now pay (previously exempt) for monitoring the small-scale hydro schemes while larger hydro producers will have their charges for monitoring reduced. Sepa are to have a consultation.

It can seem that it is reasonable to pay for a service. However I fail to see how an extra “tax” burden for rural businesses including farming, many of whom are the nation’s primary food and drink producers, can make any sense.

By definition, the rural businesses are not in the urban areas and as such some services may be more difficult to provide, but penalising their production costs by Sepa will no doubt be Jack Slupinski, Huntly Place, Aboyne