Canoeists oppose hydro power plan

Canoeists fear the plan would lead to lower water levels

Plans for a hydro electric scheme on one of the country's top white water rivers are being opposed by canoeists.

Energy firm Npower Renewables believes the River Braan scheme in Perthshire could generate enough electricity to power more than 2,000 homes a year.

But sportsmen claim water levels on the river near Dunkeld would drop and drastically cut canoeing days.

Npower said the planned scheme, which has yet to go before Perth and Kinross Council, has community backing.

The stretch of water at the centre of the dispute has been dubbed the "mad mile" by canoeists and is said to be one of the best white water rivers in Europe.

'Unique energy source'

Protesters have compared the proposed scheme to building a wind turbine on the centre circle at Hampden or Murrayfield.

However, the company behind the scheme said it was confident that a compromise could be reached.

We feel it should be possible to manage the resource in a fair way to both parties Alasdair Macniven Npower Renewables

Brendan Emery, who regularly canoes on the Braan, said: "We've got less and less of these fantastic runs left and we want to preserve as many as we can. To lose it would be a disaster."

Under the scheme, a weir would collect water and send it down pipes running along the gorge to be dropped into a turbine.

Alasdair Macniven, who is heading the proposal, said the Braan was a unique source for hydro generation because of its close proximity to the national grid.

He said: "We can export our power very easily. We can also use the power locally rather than export it across the transmission grid to other parts of the country."

'Safety risk'

On the dispute, he added: "We've offered paddlers a certain number of hours per year.

"We feel it should be possible to manage the resource in a fair way to both parties."

But Mike Dales, of the Scottish Canoe Association, said the scheme might pose a safety risk to canoeists.

He explained: "It's a very narrow river with steep sides and if you're paddling on it at a particular water level and suddenly the hydro switches off and all that water suddenly comes down the gorge, you're paddling on a river that within a few seconds can double in size."

Perth and Kinross Council will consider the application at a later date, although the final say rests with the Scottish Executive.