Dear all
your help is needed NOW. As some of you may know a planning
application
has gone into the Scottish Executive from npower for a small hydro
electric scheme on the river Braan, details below. Consultation closes
on 6 September. Please write a simple letter with your name and
address to support rejection of this application.
Please write to the Energy Consents unit in Glasgow:
Email
Energy Consents Unit
Scottish Executive
Enterprise, Transport & Lifelong Learning
Meridian Court
5 Cadogan Street
GLASGOW G2 6AT

To Perth & Kinross Council:
The Chief Executive
Perth & Kinross Council
2 High Street
PERTH
PH1 5PH
email:

Alma Bendall,Planning officer
Perth and Kinross Council, Planning Department,
Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD
email:

Copy to your MSP and the list MSPs if you can!

Copy to

Remember to include your address.
The scheme will remove water from the Braan above Rumbling Bridge and
put it back in below the coffin drop just above Hermitage Falls i.e. it
will take water out of the really good grade IV gorge section. If the
scheme goes ahead it will remove 9 cumecs reducing the number of days
the Braan can be paddled considerably (estimated drop from 183 days at
low or above to 51
after). npower are offering an additional 10 canoeing days when they
will turn the turbines off between 10 and 4pm. Realistically these
will not be on demand but will need to be pre-planned days. For this
to work though you would need to guess in reasonable advance when it
will rain and we all know how easy
that is!?!

If you agree that the Braan should be left alone (the electricity
generated will be negligible and heavily subsidised) please write and
object to the Scottish Executive. You can read the details of the
scheme at http://www.wheresthewater.com/ - click on the yellow sign
see

Even if you don't rate the Braan there are ALOT of these types of
scheme
in the pipeline, some have already been granted like the Fechlin and at
the very least we want to set a precedent where developers have to
consider canoeing interests.

For those of you're friends who are not canoeists - just something
about the
amenity of the Braan and the Rumbling Bridge Falls and recreational
value etc would be great.....if we save it we will take you boating
there if you like!!

Check out the website. You are welcome to copy sections.
However, a simple letter with your name and address, the importance of
the Braan to paddling and your objection to the scheme would be more
than enough. E-mails are fine.
usefull web sites:
www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/braan.htm
www.wheresthewater.com/

This is important!
John Picken
acting SCA Access Officer
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