£223,000 grant boost for water-power plan

BILL Edwards and GGRA secretary Mike Rooke at the Dovestone site where the turbine will be installed

Hydro scheme in full flow
A GROUNDBREAKING project to create a hydro-electricity project in Greenfield is a step closer to reality after a government grant was confirmed.

A total of £223,000 has been secured from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to help make dreams of a mini green power station become a reality.

The Saddleworth Community Hydro group was set up in January, 2008, with the intention of developing an idea to use the 100ft-high dam at Dovestone Reservoir to generate power.

Surveys have already been done at the proposed site and United Utilities has given its permission for the scheme to go ahead.

The plan is to form and Industrial Provident Society (IPS), a not-for-profit co-operative where money made from selling the power would be pumped back into further sustainable community projects in Saddleworth.

But a further £100,000 still has to be raised from the sales of shares to complete the project.

Chairman of the steering group, Bill Edwards, said: “At one point we thought we may have lost the grant and would have to raise all the money from bank loans and shares.

“Luckily we have only had 8 per cent shaved off the grant, so that was a relief. A lot of people in Saddleworth found it hard to accept wind turbines but people see this as a far more appropriate scheme.

“This has been a true community effort with a large amount of individuals coming together to make it work. I’m proud to play a part in that.”

Mr Edwards said the team has a busy few weeks coming up to do the number crunching and ensure the scheme is viable before it can get to the final planning stages.

The hydro group is this week meeting Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams to discuss future development and gain her support.

The Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association has also played a major part in getting the scheme off the ground.

Secretary Mike Rooke said: “The grant has really opened up the doors now and we are really excited.

“This project is groundbreaking and will really put Saddleworth on the national map.

“It will be a major feather in everyone’s cap and we can’t wait to see it up and running.”

The equivalent of up to 100 homes worth of power could be produced by the water-powered turbine, which it is hoped will be working by the end of 2012.

The scheme involving co-operation between a water firm and the community is the first of its kind in the UK.

Ken Hulme, also a member of the steering group, said: “Even though wind farms were objected too, people still care about renewable energy.

“A lot of people have plugged away to ensure the project success, it just shows what the talented and experienced people can achieve when they come together.”