Fears that noise from a hydro scheme could disrupt the operations of a Perthshire recording studio were rejected by councillors on Thursday.
Singer/songwriter Dougie MacLean had expressed concern that the proposal would impact on his home and studio in the village of Butterstone, near Dunkeld.
The composer of Caledonia currently enjoying exposure on a television beer advert even went as far as saying that he might be forced to leave the tiny hamlet where he went to school.
His neighbour Brendon Turvey spoke on his behalf and that of other objectors.
He said that, although they backed the concept of a hydro scheme, they felt it was fundamentally in the wrong position.
They believed the powerhouse was too close to properties in Butterstone and they were happy to forgo any community benefits from the developer if it was moved further from the houses.
“We have serious concerns about noise from this development and the impact it will have on our village,” said Mr Turvey.
The applicants maintained the scheme, which would produce enough power for 500 homes, would be “virtually inaudible” and pointed out that council planning officers were recommending approval.
The 530 kilowatt hydropower scheme on the Buckny Burn will take water from the burn that runs from Riemore down to Laighwood, four miles north-east of Dunkeld.
Mr MacLean voiced his opposition prior to the meeting saying: “It’s disgraceful that anyone should even consider building something of this scale and nature in a quiet, historic village like ours, especially, when there is a much better locale for the powerhouse several hundred yards down the road.”
He feared that the powerhouse would emit a low-level hum, which would disrupt recording.
Alexander Linklater, partner of Buckny Hydro and a trustee of Riemore estate, told the council’s development management committee that their acoustic expert’s findings were that, across the burn at the nearest point in the village, the powerhouse will make no more sound than “a human breath”.
“Residents will continue to hear only the noise of the burn itself,” he said.
He pledged that the powerhouse would be soundproofed and screened so that it would have no impact on the village.
To move the structure to the site preferred by the objectors would mean the loss of ancient woodland and would mean more disruption which “made no sense”, he said.
Council planning officer Anne Condliffe assured the committee that she was confident that the site proposed was the best for the hydro scheme.
Councillor Ian Campbell moved deferral to allow discussions to take place between both parties.
However, Councillor Bob Band moved for approval and his motion won the day by seven votes to two.