There has been a delay in generating hydroelectricity from the Thames in Abingdon. The district council asked the community group behind the scheme to give more details about the short term impact during the build phase.
More details have been given and the plans are back in for consideration. There is another week for comments about the application. Go to the district council’s web site, http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/. Then type P13/V1315 in the search box. There are 8 reports and 16 drawings to look through. Lots of other community groups from fishermen to canoeists to walkers will be impacted.
If the go ahead is given then shares in the project will be offered to members of the community .
In fact, the scheme will be built from and towards the camera from just about where the notice is, just on the right of the photo. I know, I went down there early yesterday at the river’s edge where there are metal piles supporting the Thames path. What is good for Oxford, at Osney Mead, is even better for Abingdon with an even bigger scheme, courtesy the bigger drop here. Let’s go for it!
Let’s hope the plan goes through this time. This is a great scheme.
I tried to access the plans on the Vale site using the reference number quoted, but repeatedly got a nil result. Similarly, when I searched Hydro electric scheme. Anyone supply any clues please?
I really was mainly interested in how it would affect access for walkers either temporarily or permasnently?
Cassandra – try this link http://tinyurl.com/hydro-abingdon
This has always seemed like a fantastic idea to me lets hope it goes straight through planning. There is so much energy out there just being wasted. Why oh why oh why for instance aren’t housing association houses at least built with solar and wind harvesting capability after all they are for “low income families” so what better than free energy. But of course it would make sense for everything to be built with them. The possibilities are endless when it comes to harnessing energy but we just aren’t making the most of it.
A hundred years ago nearly every river from the Ock to the Windrush had working water mills. At South Moreton there is an old water mill on what is practically a stream.
Could it be that social housing is funded by a return through the rents. The expense of setting up solar or wind energy systems (or better yet geothermal) is recouped by the tenant rather than the landlord. The only way to recover the additional cost would be by increasing the rent.
I live in a Housing Association property and am fortunate in having excellent landlords. However, I doubt if they would want to underwrite my energy bills….
I think this is an interesting idea and would be an interesting development….however I believe there are several items that need to be firmly dealt with prior to the granting of full planning conditions as follows:
1. The duration of the works is stated as being around 6 to 9 months. Based on the type of work this will be carried out during the summer months. The current access drawing shows the access via Abbey Close and across the existing bridge by the outdoor pool. The access is shown as being a stone haul road 3.5m long following around the edge of the river. This will cut of any public access to the river for the duration of the works which, if over summer with weather like it is currently will result in a massive loss to Abingdon. A much better access plan needs to be drawn up maintaining public access to this area throughout the works (as someone who manages construction works this is perfectly feasible – it just requires a bit of thought).
2. The ecology survey says that if trees are damaged beyond repair they will be replaced. The report needs to be more precise before full planning condition is granted clearly identifying which trees will need to be removed. For all other trees in the proximity of the works suitable protection measures should be put in place. To say trees will be replaced if damaged without detailing any protection measures goes against current standards.
I support the planning application in principle but feel (from a very quick look at documents) that further information is still required before permission is granted.
Could the access be from Audlett Drive if a temporary army-type bridge were built over the millstream?
That sounds a good idea Pat. I was checking this area out this morning. A couple of short Bailey bridges and a small compound for vehicles and equipment in the scrub area where the three footpaths converge. It would involve minimal removal of trees to make the access.
Another alternative would be to utilize the field downstream of the lock and use barges to transport materials from one side to the other. Also is their not a public jetty at the Marina site that they could use to move heavy items by river ?
The last thing Abingdon needs is for major disruption to the very popular Abbey Meadows area.
Since they are building on and next to the river why can’t they bring materials in by barge? Or is that too obvious.