Invervar Community Association
Invervar Hydro Campaign
Help stop a proposed hydro scheme from blighting Glenlyon
Join our campaign to stop plans to site a 1.2 megawatt hydro power station in the heart of our village of Invervar in Glenlyon, Perthshire. The scheme proposes putting the power house within 100 metres of 88% of the population and no more than five metres from the village playground. (see an illustration of the proposal)
The Invervar Community Association, representing ten out of the village's thirteen residents in the village, supports renewable energy and has no objection to a well sited scheme being built on the Invervar burn. But this proposal could not be more damaging to the village, the environment and the local economy.
We urge you to support us by sending us an email with your objection before the 9th of September to help stop this proposal being given planning consent. We send all the objections we receive on to the Scottish Executive and the Perth & Kinross Council. Reasons to object include:
Noise pollution
It is the policy of responsible hydro companies to site power stations at least 100 metres away from residences because of the problem of noise pollution. 88% the permanent residents of Invervar live within 100 metres of the proposed site of the power station and the three Housing Association properties, and one Perth & Kinross council house lie within fifty meters.
We believe that the near constant background hum from this development will shatter the tranquility of our quiet rural village.
Salmon
The current proposal includes around 170 meters of salmon pools in the lower reaches of the Invervar burn. If allowed to go ahead it will damage these salmon breeding sites and add further pressure to the salmon population in the Tay river system. The outflow needs to be moved further upstream, above the salmon pools at the bottom of the burn.
Water Supply
The Invervar burn is the source of fresh water for seven of the properties in the village. The planning application ignores concerns about how this supply will be maintained once the scheme has drastically reduced the flow of water down the burn.
Tourism, Canoeing, Hill Walking
The environmental report for the proposed hydro scheme states that "canoeing does not take place on the Invervar burn." In fact the Invervar burn is listed as grade 4/5 canoeing river in the Scottish Whitewater Guidebook and is referred to as an excellent canoeing river on canoe club websites across the UK.
Invervar is also the main access point for hundreds of visitors who come to walk Carn Gorm, Meall Garbh and Carn Mairg in Glenlyon every year. The community is seeking reassurances about the access route onto these munros, which may be severely disrupted by this development.
We are concerned that this scheme will deter these visitors to Glenlyon and damage tourism in an already fragile local economy.
Electro magnetic radiation
The Draper Report, published in the British Medical Journal in June 2005, found that children under the age of 15 living within 100 meters of high-voltage power lines have close to twice the risk of developing leukemia. Children aged under the age of five, of which there are three in Invervar, are the most vulnerable so their risk is likely to be even higher.
We believe that it is irresponsible to put the power station right next to the village playground and so close to our homes.
Our View - Object Now
This ill conceived scheme rides rough shod over local concerns and risks giving hydro power a bad name. If you love Glenlyon as much as we do please support our campaign by objecting now or by writing directly to the address below.
Energy Consents Unit
Scottish Executive
Meridian Court
5 Cadogan Street
Glasgow G2 6AT
If you have any questions you can contacts us by email at community@invervar.org