Actions Summary - January 2008
TAP Ltd has initiated the following actions which it believes will be helpful in gaining approval for the project:
1 Submitted a planning application to Monmouthshire County Council
On site meeting held with the planning officer. Additional documentation and drawings supplied as requested. Consultations under way. Decision expected by end of March.
2 Held meetings with MCC Highways Dept personnel.
Discussed impact on Beaufort dam and where pipe crosses the road. No concerns raised. Procedure agreed for when implementation begins.
3 Held meetings with the Environment Agency including their bio-diversity and fisheries personnel.
Fish were not seen tbe a problem. Bidiversity requested an environmental survey close tthe pipe run and in the Angiddy, with particular interest in cray fish and bryophytes in the Angiddy. TAP have commenced these surveys. Japanese knotweed observed outside the footprint of the pipe. Not seen to be a problem but TAP agreed to regularly treat it, to attempt to eliminate it. TAP will apply for an Abstraction licence and Impoundment licence. Drawings of the scheme and flow rates will be supplied by TAP.
4 Engaged a specialist company (HydroGeneration) tliaise with the Environment Agency to obtain the necessary EA permissions.
HydroGeneration are pulling the package of information together for submission of the application forms to the Environment Agency. As part of this work HG will complete the system design. They will also provide budget prices for the installation of the scheme. They have verified the viability of the scheme as being capable of generating 145,000 kWh per year.
5 Commissioned an environmental survey to assess the impact of the project on the Angiddy valley.
Wye Valley Surveys have completed the environmental survey with the exception of the crayfish and bryophytes. This part of the survey will take place in the Spring.
6 Commissioned an archaeological survey to ascertain that nothing of archaeological interest will be damaged during the installation of the project.
Survey due to commence in February under the guidance of GGAT. Trial pits will be dug in the leats. The length of the pipe run will be surveyed for possible archaeological interest. Particular attention will be paid to the Furnace site, as the pipe skirts the perimeter of the site.
7 Sought land owner permission from Monmouthshire County Council
All required information supplied. Decision awaited from the Asset Management Dept
8 Sought landowner permission from the Forestry Commission.
Local Forestry representative has evaluated this and recently passed it to his superior in Llandovery for a decision. Forestry Commission have no objection provided that EA approval is granted.
9 Sought landowner permission from the Angiddy Angling Club.
Permission has been received.
10 Undertaking regular monitoring of flow rates in the Angiddy brook.
Equipment installed to permit regular measurement of flow rates. Data will be calibrated against the predictions of the Environment Agency. They will use the data to decide the minimum residual flow that must remain in the Angiddy. From previous data it is estimated by the Environment Agency that the Project could achieve full extraction for 45% of the year, no extraction for 13% of the year and depleted extraction for 42% of the year, whilst leaving an adequate residual flow in the Angiddy.
11 Submitted an application to CADW concerning the installation near the Furnace site.
This will be tied in closely with the archaeological work carried out under the guidance of GGAT in February. On site meetings have been held with CADW. Pipe will skirt the perimeter of the Furnace site
12 Submitted grant funding applications.
Funding applications have been approved for the pre-implementation phase of the project from MCC Community and Economic Development Scheme Fund, AONB Sustainable Development Fund and Environment Wales Fund. Full cost funding applications for the implementation of the project have been submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government Axes 3 Fund, MCC Community and Economic Development Scheme Fund, AONB Sustainable Development Fund, Tudor Trust and Magnox North.
13 Improved communication via a monthly report.
A monthly report has been issued since November 2007 and published in the Tintern News. Members with E Mail addresses and others who have expressed an interest are receiving reports via E mail.
14 Established a web page (www.tapenergy.org)
The web page gives considerable information about the history of the project as well as details of the current scheme and progress.
15 Recruited members to TAP Ltd
Current membership stands at 72 with 43 living within the boundary of the Tintern community.
16 Held information meetings in the village
A barbeque was organised at Abbey Mill in July 2007 and 30 members attended. A "Drop In" session at the village hall in October 2007 was attended by 25 residents. An overview of the project was given and the event was supported by GreenWeb, Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations, AONB, Severn Wye Energy Agency and Friends of the Earth. An earlier meeting was held with a group of 13 "Non Supporters".
17 Presented the project at the WAG Climate Change event in the presence of Jane Davidson.
The TAP team were invited to attend a Climate Change day at the University of Glamorgan on 1st December. The day was organised by the Welsh Assembly Government and attracted 120 delegates from across South Wales. TAP was one of 18 organisations asked to set up a stand outlining their Project or field of interest, and was one of only 3 organisations invited to present their project to the assembled delegates. This was done to a packed auditorium, including Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing.
Norman Williams
Marketing & Publicity Director
Tintern Angiddy Project Ltd
Telephone: 01291 680016
E Mail: info@tapenergy.org