URGENT Braan Hydro Campaign - one more effort needed

[pickenjohn]

Please one more effort to preserve the Braan.



The proposal for a run of river 2.9 MW hydro on the Braan in Perthshire, Scotland is now up for final decision with the Scottish Executive. SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency)have presented their report recommending rejection. That is brilliant news. BUT Npower will be lobbying like mad to change this ground breaking recommendation. We need all the lobbying we can get. We need you as paddlers to again take action. Wherever you are based we need your support.



If you are concerned at all about preserving the R Braan please do three things:

1 Write to the Scottish Minister objecting to Npower's proposed hydro scheme, supporting the SEPA report and highlighting the value of the Braan in its current state to paddlers & other recreational visitors. Use your own words; letters or emails can be simple or long, passionate or full of reasoned argument. Do include your name and address especially on emails.



Scottish Ministers

Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department

Water Division

Area 1 - H

Victoria Quay

Edinburgh

EH6 6QQ



Email: waterdivision@scotland.gsi.gov.uk



2 Copy to SEPA thanking them for their support for paddling



The Registry

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

7 Whitefriars Crescent

Perth

PH2 0PA



Email: registryperth@sepa.org.uk



3 Go paddle the river and post the details on the UK Rivers thread.

http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/foru ... c&start=30



The SEPA recommendation is ground breaking and very brave in supporting paddling. The report states:

"“SEPA has a statutory duty to determine whether the benefit of a development justifies the impacts on the environment and other people.

“In light of the national importance of this river for canoeing, our analysis showed that the impact of the scheme was too great. ""

and

""SEPA's assessment of the proposed activities shows that they would

result in the deterioration of the ecological status of the river

Braan." "



for more info see the Dundee Courier article on the Courier web site:

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007 ... 5541t0.asp



As paddlers will know The Braan is a superb white water river in a beautiful situation and just a short drive from the major population centres of Scotland. The stretch concerned is the stunning gorge below the famous Rumbling Bridge falls themselves a major visitor spectacle and walking area. See the river guide at http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/braan.htm



Npower Renewables proposal to install a run of river hydro scheme would dramatically reduce the river flows for paddling and for the Rumbling Bridge falls - the bridge would not rumble very often.



Npower will campaign strongly against this recommendation. Since this is a ground breaking decision by SEPA Npower will be joined by others with agendas ranging from knocking SEPA, to promoting renewables at any cost or simply the wish by some locally that if the Braan scheme goes ahead it may help stop a wind farm. We need to ensure that SEPA is listened to and the voice of canoeing is heard.



--

John Picken

Aberdeenshire

Scotland

[Mark R]

I have been slack on the Braan issue personally up to this stage, I felt a bit reticent about letter-writing as it's quite a long while since I paddled the river.

However, I will certainly write now.

Is anyone else going to?

[David McCraw]

Seconded. It doesn't take long to register your views, and given the massive lethargy of the population-at-large, even a small number of responses can make a big difference (cf. the hoo-ha when an advert gets a dozen or so complaints!)

I wrote over the weekend, in case anyone needs inspiration (not that it took more than ten minutes to cobble together!):

Sir,

RE: River Braan hydro application

I am writing in anticipation of any appeal against the decision by SEPA rejecting the proposed small-scale hydro scheme on the river Braan, near Dunkeld.

The decision by SEPA is well-considered and has my fullest support. Although I am, in general, very supportive of ‘green’ power in this case the significant loss of recreational amenity -and such a unique element of our natural heritage- is unacceptable.

... continues along the same lines ...

I would like to emphasise the Braan’s recreational value to kayakers across the UK – this is undoubtedly central Scotland’s finest whitewater and is the primary attractor of the Perthshire area over Fort William and the west coast. The consequences of SEPA’s decision being overturned would not be limited to the Braan alone but have a significant detrimental effect on tourism and ‘secondary spend’ in the whole region.

I trust that you will uphold SEPA’s rejection of this ill-considered scheme.

Sincerely,

David McCraw

[james fleming]

Yup, I am in! Letters on their way.

[Gavers]

Why not? I've been stuck at my computer all day today, 10 more minutes won't hurt. And the Braan is a very good river - would be a shame to lose it. I'm in!

Gav =)

edit - have sent emails :-)

[neilfarmer]

This is information that came to me, so it is my view, but not my idea!

If you're really keen to letting SEPA know you're pleased, CC letters to the Registry to the CEO, Campbell Gemmell at SEPA Corporate Office, Erskine Court, Castle Business Park, Stirling FK 9 4TR. Registry will certainly make sure your letter gets into the Braan file, but Campbell is the head honco and speaks to those in the Exec and elsewhere who make policy.

Edited to add Campbell Gemmell's email address so that we can save some paper! Campbell.Gemmell@sepa.org.uk

Please keep updating the Braan thread with the runs that you have done, and the number of people in your group!

[little tim]

I knew there was a reason for work mail.

[Tony B]

Mail now is falling on deaf ears - got a late responses will be ingnored e-mail.

[Gavers]

I got a letter from a Mr J Davidson, saying

Dear sir

PROPOSED HYDRO SCHEME ON THE RIVER BRAAN

Thank you for your recent letter on the above.

Your comments have been noted and we will write to you again once a final decision has been reached.

Yours faithfully

J DAVIDSON
Water Environment Division

Anyone else get the same bog standard response?

Gav =)

[little tim]

An exact copy.

I wouldn't have expected much more atthis point though.

T

[tape34]

Mail now is falling on deaf ears - got a late responses will be ingnored e-mail.

meaning???

[tape34]

Mail now is falling on deaf ears - got a late responses will be ingnored e-mail.

meaning???

ok Tony B now I understand ... from Scottish Executive:-

PROPOSED HYDRO SCHEME ON THE RIVER BRAAN
Thank you for your recent letter on the above. Unfortunately we cannot take your comments into consideration as they were received after the deadline and the Ministers are currently making a decision as to whether to refer the case for their determination.
Yours faithfully
J DAVIDSON
Water Environment Division

was still worth sending to SEPA for support I think
Pete Ball