Boats and fish safeguarded in Hexham Hydro plan

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ASCHEME is being devised for the Hexham Hydro project which will safeguard both fish passage and boats on the River Tyne.

 

The scheme to draw water power from the fast-flowing Tyne at Hexham has taken its first early steps, with a positive feasibility study paving the way for long-term development.

 

Two potential plans were laid – one to produce 675 megawatts per annum and a second to produce more than 700.

 

And although the second scheme is costlier, it is more likely to be adopted.

 

Commercially-sensitive figures are being kept confidential and a final survey is being circulated only to a select group of people in Hexham.

 

The project is a joint initiative of Transition Tynedale and Hexham Community Partnership, and carbon-free energy would be generated for the National Grid, with dividends for shareholders.

 

Town councillors have been told that key issues have been addressed and a fish pass across the weir – the Tyne is an important salmon river – will be improved under the proposed scheme. A power hose will be installed into the floodbank with a 100kw-capacity screw turbine in the river.

 

The proximity of Hexham Bridge was initially considered a difficulty, but under the proposals, boat-launch areas are said to be “improved”.

 

Cumbrian firm Inter Hydro Technology produced the positive first study and further consultations are planned for August.

 

Hexham mayor Coun Rad Hare welcomed the progress but said: “This is the initial step forward – it is very early stages.”

 

Town councillor and former mayor Terry Robson said: “We need a better report before we can discuss it in any detail.

 

“There will be all sorts of questions. But the second scheme seems to be better.

 

“In the long term it is better to invest a bigger sum of money.”

 

Coun Derek Kennedy paid tribute to the “fantastic job” done by the partnership in putting itself in the front line for a grant of up to £100,000 from the green energy group Energyshare.

 

He said: “It’s an important river and the fish are important so we need to make sure there is a scheme where these two can live side by side.

 

“Rowers’ safety could be compromised, so we want a scheme that will suit the rowers and suit the fish.”

journallive.co.uk