A hydro scheme that could net a Highland Perthshire community a multimillion-pound windfall is an ”interesting proposition”, according to the local councillor.
It emerged at the weekend that Donald Ogilvy Watson is offering the people of Aberfeldy 50% of any profit from a controversial hydro scheme, in return for permission to build part of it on common land.
The scheme at the famous beauty spot the Birks of Aberfeldy has split local opinion, with fears that it could damage the falls, which were immortalised by Robert Burns after a visit.
Earlier offers have been rejected by the community but the financial incentive may help to sway public opinion.
Renewable energy consultants estimate that the offer which would be dependent on the community investing around £285,000 in the project could in return net the community more than £6 million over the next 50 years.
Mark Jennison, managing partner at energy consultants Realise Renewables, who is conducting talks between the community and Ogilvy Watson, said: ”The figures are broad brush to demonstrate the concept to the community and all of them are estimates because things have moved on since the original calculations of capital costs and revenues, but over 20 years they get an estimated £2.85m and over 50 years, which is the general lifespan of a hydro scheme, it would probably be £6.2m.
”The developer has offered a 50/50 split because it appeared from earlier rejections of the scheme by the community that their view might be different if they had a greater stake and control.”
The plan for a hydro generator was approved by Perth and Kinross Council in 2009 but to proceed it requires the permission of the Aberfeldy Common Good Fund, which owns land required for the scheme.
Councillor Ian Campbell, one of the five members of Aberfeldy Common Good Fund, is weighing up the pros and cons.
He said: ”There’s still quite a lot of opposition because people just don’t want this in the Birks but, long term, it could be an interesting proposition.”