Demonstrating its role as an independent and impartial body, the Tyne Rivers Trust has organised a public meeting to look at how increased releases of water from Kielder Water to generate hydro electricity will affect other users of the Tyne.
Chaired by trustee David Ronn, the forum was attended by representatives of new hydropower operators RWEnpower, Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency, plus about 60 representatives from various interest groups in Hexham.
Kielder Water is Europe’s largest man-made lake and has a significant role in regulating the amount of water the flows in the North Tyne and River Tyne. RWEnpower have recently upgraded the hydropower generators in the dam and submitted proposals to change their operation to the Environment Agency.
David Bevan of RWEnpower said: The proposals, if implemented, could increase the annual generation at Kielder Power station by around 10% – enough to provide 400 homes with electricity for a year, resulting in a net reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of around 1300 tonnes, equivalent to 6 million car miles.¨
The proposals also included ways to provide additional benefits to interested river user groups such as a website to access information on reservoir releases as well as special releases of water to accommodate the growing Hexham Canoe Festival in November and coarse fishing matches in summer.
Following the presentations questions were invited from the floor and included:
Concerns over the rate of rise of river levels
Issues over river temperature changes during a release from Kielder
Queries regarding the provision of information
Concerns over the impact of variable releases on river levels
The basis upon which the Environment Agency decides whether or not to consent to changes in releases
Information explaining the proposals was posted on the Tyne Rivers Trust website before the meeting and a full list of questions and answers is now available at: www.tyneriverstrust.org. As a direct result of the meeting there is an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the proposals until the end of August via the Trusts online forum: www.tyneriverstrust.org/bulletinboard .
Andrew Davison, Chairman of the Tyne Rivers Trust, said, This meeting has given people who use the river a great opportunity to air their views. All forms of river recreation are extremely valuable to the Tyne, and the region, and meetings like this are a great way of working together to address the issues on a catchment scale.
John Hogger of the Environment Agency, said: ¨It was encouraging that there was a good balance between people expressing their passionate concerns for the river whilst also being prepared to isten to others viewpoints.
It was clear from the strength of feeling in the room that TRTs early involvement in the project was essential. said Andrew Moore, Commercial Sales Manager for Northumbrian Water, Your assistance in facilitating informed and reasoned debate will be crucial.
The Environment Agency have confirmed that issues raised will be taken into account and the proposals will be amended if necessary, before they are formally adopted in the autumn. There will be an opportunity to review the impact of the new releases in a year’s time and make any necessary changes.
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