The power of nature

A Saddleworth beauty spot could be at the centre of a revolutionary scheme to produce electricity to power local homes.

Experts believe a substantial amount of energy could help fill the coffers for local community initiatives by harnessing power from water in Dovestone reservoir.

The idea moved a step closer when councillor Ken Hulme told Saddleworth Parish Council that technical teams and engineers believed the scheme was “eminently feasible.”

Councillor Hulme first suggested the idea to Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, more than a year ago when he was then minister for climate change.

Since then, the Saddleworth-based community hydro steering group, where Councillor Hulme is secretary, have been studying detailed options to launch the concept.

The group’s chairman, Bill Edwards, said: “It is a fantastic idea but there is still a long list of legal and access agreements to be negotiated.

“United Utilities and other organisations have shown interest but a whole range of issues, including planning permission, land agreements and environmental aspects still have to be agreed.”

Councillor Hulme told fellow councillors: “This very exciting development at Dovestone has passed all the technical hurdles with both Oldham and United Utilities engineers.

“The plan will produce a substantial amount of clean electricity from the same source which powered the Industrial Revolution in this area — water.

“It will also generate — over a period of time — thousands of pounds for the local community to use on social projects in Saddleworth.

“All we are waiting for is final boardroom approval from United Utilities and other agencies and we will start the ball rolling and set up a co-operative to run the project for the community.”

He added: “With the Copenhagen conference only a few weeks away, there isn’t a better time for a project like this.

“I hope United Utilities will rise to the challenge — we are certainly ready for it.”

Mike Rooke, secretary of the Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association, said: “Our association has been involved from the outset. From our local knowledge and expertise, we established the great potential of energy that could be generated from the huge volume of water at Dovestone.

“By seizing this opportunity, the way could be paved for similar green hydro schemes around this region and across the country.”

Meanwhile, Water Power Enterprises, a social enterprise company part-funded by the Co-operative Group, which believes water power could be a renewable energy-source of the future for Peak District communities, is organising a workshop later this month. It will explain how communities could set up their own small-scale hydro-power scheme.

And referring to Saddleworth, Councillor Hulme added: “It can be part of the new technology revolution to a low-carbon future.

“We certainly get enough rain around here!”

MP Phil Woolas said: “Clean energy generated at the reservoir will bring benefits to the local community and more visitors to this area of outstanding natural beauty to see what can be achieved be using power generated from the flow of water.

“Hopefully, other local communities will be able to benefit from similar schemes.”