Election time is approaching and leaflets from prospective MPs are dropping through doors. Do you live in Aberconwy or visit and spend money in the local economy. Write to the local MP Guto Bebb with your concerns. His Twitter feeds shows him firmly behind the scheme but perhaps because he hasn't heard the concerns of local residents and tourists.

Constituency Office
The Office of Guto Bebb MP
1 Ashdown House
Riverside Business Park
Conwy, LL32 8UB
[email protected]

A local resident of Dolwyddelan sent us a copy of his letter. This letter has been anonymised but don't forget to include your name and address if you live in the constituency.

FAO: Mr Guto Bebb MP, apropos Conwy Falls hydro scheme

Dear Mr.Bebb,
As a resident of Dolwyddelan I have been growing increasingly concerned about the hydro power project that is being proposed for Conwy Falls. I have seen that to some extent you have supported and passed comments in favour of the scheme, with this in mind I was hoping that you might be able to address some of my concerns.
My umbrella concern is that this is an experimental scheme on a migratory Salmon river in the heart of the National park, treading on a SSSI. RWE's attempt to compare the Dolgarrog hydro scheme ' the Conwy is therefore well proven and reliable for hydro electric power' is misleading and insulting; one is hanging valley with a controllable head of water, the other a primary migratory salmon river; yes they may be nearby, but they may as well be on different planets in terms of their properties.
The benefits or energy production estimates also appear to be over stated; as the scheme is unable to control when the energy is produced, high water after rain, at midnight on the Conwy will produce power; however, with no means of storage that does not translate into use-able energy. Good for the numbers, useless in terms of real energy to the grid.
This is an invasive and potentially damaging scheme that appears to be supported by misinformation, low carbon does not necessarily mean environmentally friendly. I worry that the Parks, RWE and NRW are using this scheme to bolster their green credentials without truly understanding or acknowledging the repercussions.
My above concerns are fairly broad and do not begin to touch on the ever growing list of concerns: disruption to the A5, large scale development in the National Park, disruption and reduced access to one of Britain's finest sections of whitewater for canoeing and kayaking, disruption of Otter and fish habitat, the list goes on...
My main questions to you: Who benefits from the scheme? What are the benefits to the local community? What do we stand to lose by allowing this to happen in the National park?
I hope that I may have encouraged you to look a little deeper into this and that you are not merely seeking to bolster your own Green credentials. Schemes similar to this have been in place in North America for some time and they are only now starting to realise the damage that they have caused.
Regards