13 June 2011
MP welcomes River Doon news
Local Labour MP Sandra Osborne today welcomed the news that Scottish Power has decided to put a halt to their plans to alter water flows in the River Doon.
Sandra said:
“I have been informed by Scottish Power that following extensive consultation with local communities, local authorities and parliamentarians, they will not implement any reductions to the compensation flow on the River Doon.”
From 1936 when the Galloway Hydros Scheme was agreed, and a dam built, about two thirds of the water that should naturally flow down the Doon has been removed through a tunnel into the Dee, the largest loss of water from any catchment in Scotland. At the time there were parliamentary inquiries to discuss the compensation flow that should be agreed to protect the Doon from the worst effects of this huge loss of its natural flow.
Scottish Power’s recent proposals on how they would meet the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive on the rivers serving the Galloway Hydro Scheme, which includes the River Doon and the River Dee, are currently being considered by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).
The company has now advised that it will still seek to increase the flows serving the River Dee between 2015 and 2021 as per the current licence application. However, given the strength of feeling around wider impacts of their proposals, they have decided not to seek to alter the compensation flows in the River Doon.
Sandra added:
“I welcome this news which follows a good campaign by local people. I’m pleased that SEPA and Scottish Power have listened to people’s concerns but I am perplexed as to why Scottish Power made the decision to put such a proposal in their application in the first place.”
MP welcomes River Doon news
Local Labour MP Sandra Osborne today welcomed the news that Scottish Power has decided to put a halt to their plans to alter water flows in the River Doon.
Sandra said:
“I have been informed by Scottish Power that following extensive consultation with local communities, local authorities and parliamentarians, they will not implement any reductions to the compensation flow on the River Doon.”
From 1936 when the Galloway Hydros Scheme was agreed, and a dam built, about two thirds of the water that should naturally flow down the Doon has been removed through a tunnel into the Dee, the largest loss of water from any catchment in Scotland. At the time there were parliamentary inquiries to discuss the compensation flow that should be agreed to protect the Doon from the worst effects of this huge loss of its natural flow.
Scottish Power’s recent proposals on how they would meet the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive on the rivers serving the Galloway Hydro Scheme, which includes the River Doon and the River Dee, are currently being considered by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).
The company has now advised that it will still seek to increase the flows serving the River Dee between 2015 and 2021 as per the current licence application. However, given the strength of feeling around wider impacts of their proposals, they have decided not to seek to alter the compensation flows in the River Doon.
Sandra added:
“I welcome this news which follows a good campaign by local people. I’m pleased that SEPA and Scottish Power have listened to people’s concerns but I am perplexed as to why Scottish Power made the decision to put such a proposal in their application in the first place.”