Power giant SSE has put on hold plans for a hydro scheme on the Angus-Perthshire border.
The run-of-river project between Kirriemuir and Alyth would have seen the River Isla diverted from Bridge of Craigisla along four miles of underground pipes to a power station at Shanzie, near Alyth.
The scheme provoked serious concerns among environmental and angling interests when the plan was announced last year, with fears that almost 90% of the Isla’s water would be diverted in the hydro scheme, severely impacting on the local area, including the prominent local beauty spot of the Reekie Linn waterfall.
The threat to species including salmon and river lamprey has been highlighted by objectors, but it is understood the risk to rare river jelly lichen within the vicinity may have prompted the energy company to freeze the Isla proposal.
A statement released on the company’s website said: ”We have suspended our schedule to submit a planning application in spring for the Glen Isla scheme due to feedback from statutory consultees, the local community and other stakeholders. We are undertaking an extensive review of the project and will take time to more thoroughly evaluate and assess the feedback from stakeholders. We will report back to appropriate stakeholders and community in due course.”
SSE had said the Isla scheme would have incorporated a small intake structure located on the River Isla upstream of Bridge of Craigisla and a generating station, incorporating a sub station, located in a relatively secluded area of agricultural land some 10km downstream of the intake.
The scheme would have a capacity of up to 10MW, providing enough renewable energy in an average year to power 5,000 homes and forming a major part of the Perth firm’s commitment to halve its carbon emissions by 2020.
Objectors to the scheme included Kirriemuir Angling Club, which feared the effect of the Angus plan would have mirrored that felt in relation to the hydro power scheme on the River Garry, a major tributary of the Tummel, where some 13 miles of the main river were lost to fish and other wildlife as a result of abstraction.
Angling club secretary Ross Watson said: ”The club are very pleased that SSE have taken on board the issues raised. We were very concerned with the water levels which would have remained in the Isla after the turbine was built. We understood most of the water would have been taken when the river’s in spate, which happens to be the best fishing conditions, especially at Den of Airlie. We will be keeping a close eye on this should any plan come forward again.”
Mr Watson said he believed the risk to the river jelly lichen may have been a key factor in the SSE move. ”This particular species has been lost all over the world due to river levels being lowered by hydro schemes and with the area being in a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest)
The Tay District Salmon Fishery Board has also raised concerns, with other bodies including the Scottish Canoe Association and VisitScotland. The fishery board said they were ”very nervous” about the ramifications the Isla plan might also have for the River Tay.
Alyth Community Council chairman Sanjay Samani said: ”Alyth Community Council had been very concerned about the potential environmental impact of the proposed hydro scheme. Many residents had raised their concerns with us.
”We were keen to hear SSE’s response and it is good to know that there will be no risk to the salmon and other wildlife along the Glen Isla River.”
Photo by Flickr user Shandchem