A controversial £5 million hydro scheme for one of Scotland’s most protected natural beauty spots has been given the green light by Angus councillors.
Development standards committee members meeting in Forfar voted 10-3 to approve the Slug of Auchrannie scheme at Den of Airlie, around a mile south of Lintrathen Loch and just under two miles from the Reekie Linn waterfalls, on the county’s border with Perthshire.
Recommended for approval by Angus planning officials, the location of the planned 1.4 megawatt scheme sits in a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is part of the River Tay Special Area of Conservation.
It is also part of what British Lichen Society officials describe as the “world headquarters” for rare river jelly lichen and they claimed the scheme could threaten the prized population of the rare species.
However, the Airlie Castle Estate and the John Hogg Group project four years in development was hailed a “superb piece of engineering” by one councillor.
The run-of-river project will involve a 14ft diameter tunnel extending some 656ft and including a 5.9ft diameter pipe and rails for maintenance bogeys, as well as a partially underground turbine house on the river’s north bank.
Project spokesman David Brown told councillors: “We are very mindful of the importance of this site and my brief is to deliver a viable scheme with the best environmental option.
“We understand the sensitivity of the site and we have a robust mitigation strategy in place.”
He said capital costs would be in the order of £5m, with almost £3m of that involving contracting costs including local labour.
A British Lichen Society representative told the meeting the group remained opposed to the project, despite amendments to minimise any possible impact on the rare river jelly lichen.
However, in their report, Angus officials said only 0.63% of the rare species’ local population might by affected by the scheme.
Arbroath councillor David Fairweather led opposition to the scheme, saying the claimed CO2 saving of 111,250 tonnes or 312 cars off the road for the lifetime of the project was “not very much”.
He added: “I am not happy about this at all. This is a SSSI and whether it is a minimal impact or not, it is going to destroy wildlife and plants in that area.
“I’m not against progress but I think this committee should give these areas the highest possible protection.”
Councillor Bill Bowles said: “As custodians of our environment we’ve got to be very, very careful about how we leave it for future generations. If a site is deemed a SSSI that’s for a reason and I think that means it should be left alone.”
However, committee convener Rob Murray said: “I believe the environmental impacts are not unacceptable, mitigation procedures are in place and the river jelly lichen will be protected. There will not be a huge impact on wildlife, either in the short-term or the long-term.”
Montrose councillor Bill Duff added: “The visual impacts are pretty minimal.
“I think it is a superb piece of engineering and the developers should be commended for pulling this together.”