Not far from the Waitrose entrance is an area where you can charge up your electric car. The larger charger is Nissan, and the smaller one is all other makes. The cone in-between is probably there to stop petrol and diesel cars using the charging space as a parking place.
The planning application for Abingdon Hydro has been published this month on the district council planning portal.
The foreward says The generation of hydro electricity from the River Thames using two Archimedes screws. In addition the site will have publicly accessible observation platform an information centre for visiting groups, and a fish pass in the form of a meandering stream. The land has a public footpath (which will be retained) but it does not currently have any other use.
The end of consultation is 5th December and the expected decision is 27th December.
** As with the application for 160 homes it includes a bat survey. There must be money to be made for surveying bats.
The volunteers who look after Barton Fields have a massive task at the moment, raking up hay from the wildflower meadow and other areas. Extra volunteers would be very welcome because of the extra volume of hay this year.
Tools and refreshments are provided, including filled rolls for lunch provided you let them know you are coming. They will be meeting at 9:30 am at the Barton Lane entrance opposite Sophos, on Thursday 6th & Friday 7th Sept.
Contact David Guyoncourt on 01235 529151 or email david.guyoncourt@ntlworld.com to book your packed lunch.
We have all looked at the water going over the weir and wondered why it is not being harnessed.
The Environment Agency have just granted a licence to generate hydroelectric power from the River Thames at Abingdon to a not for profit enterprise run by local Abingdon people.
It will affect this not very beautiful view near Abingdon Weir
and will be a new feature along this short section of footpath …
The fish pass and change from two screws, not three, look like changes from previous pictures I have seen.
Planning permission will be needed next and if that goes well there could be a share offer in the autumn to finance the project and construction next year.
The Archimedes screws are over 3 metres in diameter, and they turn quite slowly. The architect will do their best harmonise the design with the area before putting in the planning application. It will after all be an interesting attraction for visitors.
It is anticipated that they will produce 100 kilowatts. This is equivalent to about 200 average houses.
The project will cost about a million pounds, to be funded by shares. The local people leading the project hope that a good proportion of the shareholders will be local. They say the interest rate will be competitive. Any remaining profit will go into a community fund, to be used locally. For more details visit Abingdon Hydro.