Fish stop mill power plan
Monday 22nd March 2010, 9:16AM GMT.
Plans to generate electricity using a restored 14th century Shropshire water mill have been stalled. It has emerged that there have been problems with a grating designed to protect fish.
Dinham Millennium Green Trust has restored the Mill on the Green by Ludlow’s River Teme in order to help generate electricity.
Trust chairman Paul Nicholls said: “We put in a screen to stop fish being drawn into the wheel in accordance with Environment Agency specifications.
“The problem is that the gaps in the fish screen are not wide enough to allow a sufficient flow to drive the water wheel at the sort of rate it needs to go round to produce as much hydroelectric power as it is capable of.
“Debris in the mill race also backs up in the screen which blocks off the water supply to an even greater extent.
“We need a revised screen which will let water through but keep fish out.”
Mr Nicholls said representatives from the trust were working on the problem with the Environment Agency.
He said the gaps in the first screen were about half an inch wide.
The restored water wheel is capable of generating about two kilowatts of power.
The trust is also investigating using photovoltaic tiles for the south-facing part of the mill building’s roof. It is expected this could cost up to £200,000.
Operating together, the two systems could generate 20 kW.
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
