Tuesday 19 October 2010

Former PoW camp to be renewable hub

A former Second War prisoner of war camp that once held Rudolph Hess could be turned into a renewable energy hub.

The community development trust in the village of Comrie in Perthshire bought the site in 2007 from the MoD and now wants to turn part of it into a showcase for renewable energy. The trust has completed feasibility studies involving power generation technologies such as biomass, solar and anaerobic digestion which it hopes will power holiday accommodation, a museum and a conference room which will also be on the site.

Alan Caldwell, a member of the trust board, said: "The problem which has existed in the past is that the private sector doesn't equate communities with investment opportunities.

"We see this as win-win. For example, renewable firms are looking for opportunities to make money and showcase technologies. If they buy into the bigger vision of our low carbon community, they get access to hundreds of new customers, the prestige that goes with it and a big tick in the corporate responsibility box."

The PoW camp was built in 1939 and held around 4000 prisoners from Germany and Italy including Rudolph Hess for one night 1941 when his plane crash-landed after he flew to Scotland from Germany.