|
Urlar Burn / Birks Hydro Update
Now that the full implications of the proposal for a hydro-electric scheme in the Birks of Aberfeldy have come to the public’s attention, a number of issues have arisen which need to be addressed by SEPA, SNH and P&K Council, writes Andrew Pointer.
Flora
 Since consent was granted, the expert botanists have alerted SNH that the small cow wheat which is a nationally important species require humid conditions, not just in mid-March to mid-May, but for throughout most of the year.
The impact on humidity levels from the reduced flows has not been assessed, and thus the plant (which is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) species so protected under European law) is being put at risk by SNH if they do not reconsider their position.
Water Level Dependent Species
SEPA consented the scheme with a “hands-off” flow of Q90. Dr. David Summers of the Tay Salmon District Fisheries Board (TSDFB) has described this as “condemning the burn to a drought flow for most of the year”. Had there been trout or salmon, SEPA suggest that a much higher hands-off flow of Q60 would be the norm. The developer’s consultants concluded that there was “intermittent evidence of salmon” in the gorge.
To my mind, given the challenges already faced by the Atlantic Salmon, that should have been enough to stop the scheme. Many people signing the petition (which is widely available in Aberfeldy outlets) have pointed out that the gorge is a spawning ground for salmon. A friend has told me that “there were so many salmon we used to spear them through the ice”. (The lampreys were fair game also). However, the fish survey was undertaken in 2006/2007 when there was a concrete weir impeding salmon migration into the gorge. The TSDFB has since removed this weir (at a cost of £20,000, paid for by the Tay Ghillies Assoc.). Hence, the baseline survey is invalid, the salmon experts are certain that the gorge is a spawning ground, and SEPA needs to the reconsider the Q90 consent.
The gorge is also home for lampreys and otters, and possibly freshwater mussels, which are also all UKBAP, so, like salmon spawning grounds, should be protected by law. The reduced flows will clearly impact on their habitat, so this is another reason for SNH and SEPA to revisit this application.
Planning and the Consent Process
Most people found about the scheme long after it had been granted planning approval by P&K. It seems very few of the consultees responded to SEPA, indeed SEPA now admits (privately) that there were problems with the way the scheme was advertised. Given the fact that the Birks were gifted to the people of Aberfeldy, and are the key visitor attraction in the area, this is not acceptable. SEPA also did not make clear in its report to P&K the significant impact the reduced flows would have on the waterfalls. Very few (if any) councillors knew what the term Q90 actually meant, and at least one thought the intake was below the Falls of Moness.
P&K’s survey (with input from SNH and SEPA) concluded that: “94% of residents said they would be disappointed if the flow of water over the falls were artificially reduced, and 61% said their decision to visit the Birks of Aberfeldy would have been affected if they knew the flow of water over the falls had been reduced”. The report calculated that the 37,000 visitors p.a. generated £1.9 million for the local economy, and £1.2 million of this would be at risk if the flows were significantly reduced, clearly demonstrating the economic folly of the scheme.
Working with Local Communities
Was this report made available to the planning committee, and if not, why not, and if it was, why was it ignored? Will the Common Good Fund Committee (CGF) take heed of this key finding? As the Aberfeldy Community Council’s poll has now shown a clear 75% majority against the scheme, it is up to the members of the CGF to reflect the wishes of the people of Aberfeldy and reject the proposal - outright.
Concerns over the impact the scheme would have on the local economy, the cow wheat, salmon, lampreys, and otters remain unresolved, and need to be addressed by SNH and SEPA. Both organisations (and P&K) claim to work closely with local communities - it would be good to see some evidence of this.
The Birks Hydro scheme will be on the agenda (amongst other things) at the next Community Council meeting on 13 January at Aberfeldy town hall.
Picture of Birks gorge by Davy Nelson
|
