Power bid is set to go

A community-run project near Tintern, overseen by the county council, has won grants of more than £9,000 to look at hydro-electric systems on the Angiddy River.

Four possible sites are earmarked along a one-and-a-half mile stretch which, if given the green light, could save 38 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

Power would be generated from a turbine housing about the same size as a telephone box.

A study is being carried out by Hydrogeneration Ltd, from Devon, to confirm the financial and technical potential of the turbines.

The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty unit is the driving force behind the plan.

It has support from community and local, not-for-profit organisation, Severn Wye Energy Agency.

Cash to pay for the report came from the government's Clear Skies fund, which stumped up £6,862.

The lottery-funded New Opportunities scheme provided the remaining £2,287.

Andrew Nixon, a community links officer with the Wye Valley AONB, said the project was drafted in April 2002.

He said: "The design of the system will come out of the study being done but it will have a minimal effect on the landscape.

"Power will be generated from the turbine housing which will sit on the bank of the river and will not be much bigger than a telephone box.

"There has been initial thought about colouring the turbine housing to fit in with the surroundings but again, that sort of detail is premature until we see the report should be complete within the month."

When the feasibility studies are finished Mr Nixon and his team will turn to the community for feedback on the proposals.

He said: "If the scheme is found to be viable, we hope members of the community will form a steering group to see the project through, with the support of us and the Wye Valley Agency."

Mr Nixon said there were various options for the ongoing management of the scheme, including a not-for-profit company run by the community.

The report is expected early in 2004.