Hydro power scheme back on agenda

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Controversial plans for a hydro electric scheme in Perthshire are to go back before the local council, after the proposals were delayed.

However, councillors are still expected to object to the River Braan scheme because of environmental concerns.

The proposal by energy firm Npower Renewables had earlier been withdrawn from council consideration after a large number of objections.

Scottish ministers will have the final say on the project.

The proposal, which could generate enough electricity to power more than 2,000 homes a year, will now be considered by Perth and Kinross Council's development control committee later this month, BBC Scotland has learned.

Planning officials have recommended councillors object to the proposals because they would have an "adverse effect on the existing natural resources and recreational heritage of the area".

This move is likely to trigger a public inquiry.

Reach compromise

Npower said it wanted to reach a compromise and has offered to shut down the scheme to allow recreational use of the river.

The company earlier asked for council consideration of the scheme to be delayed after saying it was not aware of all the objections and needed more time to study them.

Much of the opposition has come from canoeists and sporting bodies, including Sportscotland.

They claimed water levels on the river near Dunkeld would drop drastically if the scheme went ahead and argued it is one of Europe's most unique canoeing spots.