Save Glen Etive! More Action Needed

Earlier in the month I posted about the threat to Glen Etive from hydro schemes and the need for those concerned to object to the schemes. Since then a meeting of Highland Council has approved the deals. This doesn't mean the end of the campaign. Mountaineering Scotland are asking the Scottish Government to 'call in' the schemes for review. If you live in Scotland you can support Mountaineering Scotland by emailing your MSPs. Everyone can also write to the press about this. There are more details on the Save Glen Etive Facebook page.

Here's the email I've sent to my MSPs.

I am writing to support Mountaineering Scotland in asking for the Scottish government to  formally ‘call-in’ the hydro schemes proposed for three rivers – the Allt Ceitlein, the Allt a’Chaorainn, and the Allt Mheuran – on the undeveloped south-east side of Glen Etive. This area is meant to be protected from damaging developments as it’s in a Wild Land Area, a National Scenic Area and a Special Protection Area. Surely three designations are enough to protect a place? If not, what is the point of such designations?

The small amount of energy produced by these schemes cannot in any way justify the loss of biodiversity, wildness and beauty. This is a special landscape of national importance and is visited and loved by walkers, climbers, canoeists, photographers, wildlife watchers, sightseers and more. Nature and outdoor activities contribute some £1.4 billion per annum to the Scottish economy. 
Damaging places like Glen Etive does not encourage growth in this sector or the return of visitors.

It is disappointing that Scottish Natural Heritage did not assess the impact of the schemes properly. It viewed them as individual applications and not as a major single development that would ruin the character of the glen. The water abstractions from the rivers, the pipes, intakes, and roads will all detract massively from this unspoilt landscape.

The developer says there will be full mitigation for the works but has failed to provide convincing evidence for this. Other hydro schemes show that restoration even when done well – and it often isn’t – still leaves scars and a damaged landscape.

Highland Council approved these developments but there were strong local objections – the motion to refer the decision to the whole council was made by a councillor from Kinlochleven - and a significant number of councillors voted against the schemes, showing they were concerned about the impacts.

Glen Etive is a jewel in the Highlands and Scotland and should be protected as an irreplaceable asset for the nation. With its nature and landscape, it could be revitalised for the benefit of the local community.

I urge you to support reviewing these schemes. For more information see http://saveglenetive.co.uk/

Saving Glen Etive: Action Needed Now

Last summer I wrote a post about the threat to beautiful Glen Etive from seven hydro schemes. In that piece I described the glen as "surrounded by fine rugged mountains laced with deep narrow ravines and corries down which tumble fast flowing streams ........ . an area that should be left to become wilder with the pressures of overgrazing and commercial forestry removed not one sacrificed for a tiny smidgeon of energy."

 
Despite being in a Wild Land Area, National Scenic Area and Special Protection Area, last month Highland Council approved the hydro schemes. However due to one concerned councillor,  Andrew Baxter, Highland Council is going to review the decision on the three most damaging schemes at a Special Meeting on March 20th.

A campaign group, Save Glen Etive, has been set up and can be followed on Twitter and Facebook. There's also a petition. Residents of the Highland Council region can write to their ward councillors asking them to attend the Special Meeting and oppose the hydro schemes, as I have done. https://www.highland.gov.uk/councillors. Those from outside the Highlands can write letters to the press, post online, and share posts from Save Glen Etive. Public pressure is needed to save this special place.

As well as the Save Glen Etive pages there is much detailed information in a series of posts on Parkswatch Scotland.

Glen Etive Under Threat

Glen Etive is a lovely glen in the Western Highlands, surrounded by fine rugged mountains laced with deep narrow ravines and corries down which tumble fast flowing streams. The latter have attracted the eye of developers and there are plans for run of the river hydro schemes on seven of them. If allowed to go ahead these will completely alter the character of the glen and destroy its wild land feel. This is an area that should be left to become wilder with the pressures of overgrazing and commercial forestry removed not one sacrificed for a tiny smidgeon of energy.

All the proposed schemes lie in areas that are supposed to be protected - the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area, the Glen Etive and Glen Fyne Special Protection Area and Wild Land Area 9 Loch Etive Mountains. If these designations are to mean anything these schemes should not go ahead. The developers of course say they'll leave no mark - a standard claim that's virtually never true. However much restoration is done - again always promised, not so often carried out - the landscape will not be the same, it will be sullied.

Of many trips I've made to Glen Etive over the years one stands out. Late one winter I walked up beside the Allt Chaorainn - one the rivers threatened with development - and camped beside it for two nights while I explored the surrounding hills. There was snow on the tops, frosts at night, and, once away from the road in Glen Etive, no signs of human developments. It should stay like that. All the photographs in this piece were taken on that trip.

For more information with a detailed analysis of the schemes and their potential impact plus information on how to object to them see this excellent post from Parkswatch Scotland.

 
The John Muir Trust has objected to three of the schemes - including Allt Chaorainn.  John Low, policy officer for Trust says: “These hydro schemes would introduce permanent new tracks and related works into the wild land of the Glen Etive Mountains. It’s clearly not the right place, the impact on the landscape and its scenic qualities would be significant.”

Mountaineering Scotland and the Grampian Club have objected too, especially in relation to a club hut that would be affected. For the Grampian Club David Gibson says 'if approved, these schemes would have a significant visual and physical impact on the wild land and amenity of the glen for walkers, climbers, photographers and canoeist'.

If you care about Glen Etive and wild places in general please object to these schemes. We cannot afford to lose more of the little wild land we have left.