Failures to Protect the Torrs

Those advocating a hydroelectric scheme for the Torrs upper weir have failed to make proper assessment of whether it is appropriate:

No Impact Assessment

Although the industrial development is in a prime beauty spot, there has been no independent assessment of its detrimental effects on the environmental and community amenity.

The owners of the site should demand such an assessment in order to protect the environment at the site and its amenity value for the community who use it. The developers should want to ensure the area is not damaged, by having a survey of the impact from their scheme. This would address the key detrimental factors of close approach to the waterfall, flow reduction, and scenic loss, including simulations of the visual impact from various aspects.

No Proper Consultation

There has been no independent unbiased consultation targeted at actual users of the site to gauge their reaction to the loss of amenity.

There have been consultation meetings amongst groups of supporters at which a wholly positive spin has been presented for the project. However, it is normal now for changes of this magnitude to be presented in an independent and unbiased manner to all people who will be affected in the community, giving a complete picture of the pros and cons, seeking to discover the real consensus.

No Alternatives Investigated

No attempt has been made to seek alternative possible sites for a hydro scheme on the rivers.

As the scheme will be ineffectual against global warming on its own, there is in any case a need to investigate other possible sites. This may reveal a more appropriate place to start. There are a number of obvious possibilities, such as midway between the upper and lower weirs, or further down toward Mousley Bottom.

No Carbon Reduction Strategy

No broader strategy for carbon reduction has been investigated - this would show that industrialising the Torrs park is an inappropriate place to start combating climate change.

A local strategy is needed to assess all aspects of carbon reduction in New Mills, through energy saving and renewable energy generation. When we have a prioritised list of projects, then will be the time to act and make a significant impact on our contribution to climate change. It may well then be apparent that spoiling a key beauty spot with industrial equipment is inappropriate and unnecessary.

By itself the proposed scheme is futile to prevent climate change - so why do it? A whole range of projects is needed to effectively reduce carbon emissions, in which case this hydro scheme could be set aside to preserve the Torrs - so why do it? Either as futile on its own, or as unnecessary in a portfolio of projects, it does not make sense to allow a hydro scheme to cause detriment to the Torrs - our greatest asset.