River Doon campaigners hit back

Sep 25 2009

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save the River Doon have blasted claims that they’re scaremongering.

They hit out after Scottish Power accused them of issuing inaccurate information in a bid to highlight a plan to divert 40 per cent of the river to the Galloway hydro scheme.

Businessman David Cosh, chairman of the Save the Doon campaign, said: “The article accused Save The Doon of scaremongering. This is utter nonsense.

“All the figures we have published have come directly from ScottishPower’s first proposal to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to reduce the flow in the Doon, and nowhere in our communication have we used the phrase “reduced to a trickle”.

“Our communication has been accurate at all times. It is not our intention to scare the public. What would we gain from that?

“Our intention is solely to raise enough public awareness to stop Scottish Power altering the flow of water currently running in the River Doon.”

Mr Cosh explained that 30 per cent of the Doon’s natural water is already rerouted to the scheme, and says the 40 per cent they say is proposed is accurate.

He added: “These figures are 100 per cent factual and came from SEPA, who rejected their first proposal.

“Scottish Power, being a profit hungry corporate, refuse to take no for an answer and are now preparing their second proposal.

“They claim to have a policy of honesty and openness, yet here they are again trying to baffle the public with facts and figures into believing that their proposed actions will not harm the river.

“It is farcical. Tampering with water levels on any river will eventually have a detrimental effect. It doesn’t take scientists and hydro experts to tell you that.”

Campaigners claim that the plan could be an environmental disaster for Ayrshire, sending more pollutants into Ayr bay.

And they say it could also damage rare mussel beds and have a serious impact on businesses dependant on the river, including fish farms.

Mr Cosh went on: “As a community, we simply cannot allow this to happen. Not here. Not anywhere.

“Local MSPs from all parties have united against Scottish Power, but we have to beware the big multi-nationals spin.

“We are not against green power – far from it , but at what cost? The power they hope to generate from our stolen water equates to less than two windmills.”

Log on to www.savethedoon.com to sign the petition.

.