Hydro plans for historical Ludlow weir to go public

Ludlow Hydro Co-operative, a group 12 residents behind the scheme are hoping to use the power of the water at Horseshoe weir on the River Teme in Ludlow to generate electricity.

The group has been working on the scheme since 2011, but have now finally finished a draft of the plans, which will be presented to the public at Ludlow Assembly Rooms this Friday, from 4pm to 7pm.

If the plans are successful, shares in the scheme and membership of the co-operative will be offered to the public to help raise the £300,000 needed to install the turbine.

Jeremy Thorp, of Shrewsbury-based not-for-profit group Sharenergy, who are working in partnership with the co-operative, said: "We've had a consultant draw up some plans for us, so we'll be presenting them before we submit a planning application, which we hope to do very soon.

"We want to get a decision before the end of the year, and if it goes ahead we will be building in 2015, and it should be up and running by the end of next year.

"We have 12 members at the moment, but we hope to recruit more," he said.

The designs have been prepared by Mann Power Consulting, along with a draft a planning application.

The plans suggest a 30kW turbine on the end of the weir, next to Ludford Mill, which should produce enough electricity to power 40 homes.

An Archimedes screw design is recommended, which is made up of a 2.5 metre steel screw rotating at a very slow speed in a concrete or steel "trough".

The design was recommended as it is the most wildlife-friendly, with fish able to pass through without suffering any harm. It is also the least likely type of turbine to get blocked by debris.

Horseshoe weir is one of several several on the Teme around Ludlow, immediately downstream of Ludford Bridge. It used to serve the grade II listed Ludford Mill, which used to be used for milling corn.

Members of Ludlow Hydro Co-operative and Sharenergy will be on hand to discuss the plans at Assembly Rooms on Friday.