Fish stop mill power plan

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.