We are so pleased that we are now able to announce details of Hexham River Hydro’s multi talented team of consultants. Thanks to our many supporters up and down the country Hexham River Hydro won Energyshare’s top prize of £100,000 which has enabled us to move ahead. We are enormously grateful to the Energyshare fund itself, supported by British Gas and River Cottage, which is helping to bring our vision for Hexham and the wider region a step closer, alongside all the expert advice we receive from Carbon Leapfrog.
Against strong national competition, Cundall Johnston & Partners LLP trading as Cundall, an international multi-disciplinary Engineering consultancy whose head office is in Newcastle has been appointed as our lead consultant http://www.cundall.com . Mann Power Consulting Ltd http://www.mannpower-hydro.co.uk , will be the key advisor on hydrology, guided by Fishtek a specialist fisheries consultancy http://www.fishtek.co.uk and local ecologist Ruth Hadden, Ryall Soil and Ecology.
We are looking forward over the next few months to introducing our consultants to the community, building on our work with a wide range of people and organisations, sharing information and in particular seeking feedback from our local angling communities, including riparian owners and statutory agencies in order the fully assess the benefits and potential impacts of the scheme. This will enable us to shape a scheme that benefits everyone in the region.
The North East, with its abundance of hills and rivers, is well placed to capitalise on hydro power that can play a part in the drive to achieving a future which is less dependant on oil. The weir below Hexham Bridge is an excellent location and we have lots of support in principle but we need to be sure there will be no negative impact on the river or for its many recreational users. Our consultants will be able to explore all of this in more detail for us.
We hope that if everything goes well it could be up and running in 2013.
Transition Tynedale 