TAP January-December 2009
Project Update - January
The archaeological studies were extended in December to include the digging of 3 trial pits in the upper leat. The first pit, near the Beaufort pond dam, showed no evidence of the presence of a leat. It was modern rubble to a depth of 1 metre. The second pit, midway between the dam and the Furnace site revealed a shallow leat (20 cms deep) built between 2 dry stone walls, with sandy clay as its base. The third pit was dug near to the leat entrance to the Furnace site. It showed a leat with a very thick wall (more than 1 metre) and a yellow clay lining.
A full report of the trial digs, in both the upper and lower leats, will be submitted by A.P.A.C. Ltd to GGAT during January 2009. This, in conjunction with previous studies, should enable a full assessment to be made of the potential impact of the project on the archaeology of valley.
Discussions also took place in December between Monmouthshire County Council and TAP concerning the route of the proposed pipeline as it passes alongside the Furnace site. It is important that the installation of the pipeline does not permit water to seep from the Angiddy Brook into the lower parts of the Furnace site. TAP were aware of this issue when proposing the pipeline and will liaise with MCC engineers prior to the pipe installation in order to ensure that no seepage can occur.
Project Update - February
The Archaeological Studies report of the Trial Digs, in both the upper and lower leats have now been completed and will be given to GGAT by A.P.A.C. Ltd. This in depth Survey and Report will allow a full assessment of the potential impact along the route of the proposed pipe line to be made. All Environmental Surveys are now complete and reports issued. Water flow rates have continued to exceed the minimum needed to run the project; this would have allowed the Hydro Scheme to run at full capacity during the past 5 months.
Project Update - March
The archaeological studies report of the trial digs, in both the upper and lower leats have now been completed and have been given to GGAT by A.P.A.C. Ltd. This in depth survey and report will allow a full assessment of the potential impact along the route of the proposed pipe line to be made.
All environmental surveys are now complete and reports have been issued. As a result, the Environment Agency has requested some further work concerning the possible presence of crayfish in the Angiddy. None were spotted during the surveys.
Project Update - April
The survey work requested by both the Environment Agency and MCC Planning Dept has been largely concluded.
A minor question concerning the potential impact on dormice has been addressed during March and a further survey for the presence of crayfish will be undertaken during April.
GGAT have reported that they do not require any further work to be done to evaluate the impact of the project on the archaeological remains in the valley.
Project Update - May
The Environment Agency has requested that TAP carry out a further survey for the presence of crayfish in the Furnace Pond. New legislation gives added protection to crayfish and a new survey procedure has been developed. The EA has agreed to extend the deadline for completing the survey until July in order to give TAP time to arrange for the work to be done and the report written.
Consequently the decision about whether or not the project can proceed will be delayed until Autumn 2009.
Project Update - June
The Environment Agency has requested that TAP carry out a further survey for the presence of crayfish in the Furnace Pond. New legislation gives added protection to crayfish and a new survey procedure has been developed. The EA has agreed to extend the deadline for completing the survey until July in order to give TAP time to arrange for the work to be done and the report written.
Consequently the decision about whether or not the project can proceed will be delayed until Autumn 2009.
Project Update - July
Arrangements have been made to carry out the additional crayfish survey, requested by the Environment Agency, during the month of July.
This will complete the survey work stipulated by both the Environment Agency and MCC Planning Dept. No further surveys are planned. It is hoped that a decision about whether or not the project can proceed will be made in early Autumn 2009.
Project Update - August
The additional crayfish survey, requested by the Environment Agency, has been carried out and a report submitted to the Environment Agency. No evidence was found to suggest that crayfish were present in the Furnace Pond. Previous surveys of the Angiddy brook have also found no evidence of crayfish.
All survey work stipulated by both the Environment Agency and MCC Planning Department has now been completed. No further surveys are planned. It is hoped that a decision about whether or not the project can proceed will be made in early Autumn 2009.
Project Update - September
No further requests for information have been received from the Environment Agency and MCC Planning Department.
It is anticipated that a decision about whether or not the project can proceed will be made in early Autumn 2009.
Improved tariffs for electricity produced from renewable sources are being proposed for 2011 onwards. If these are adopted then the annual profit realised by the TAP project will increase to £20000. As TAP will continue to run as a Not for Profit organisation, this will be available for distribution within the Tintern community, in support of improvement projects, local clubs, groups and organisations.
Project Update - October
The Environment Agency has written to MCC Planning Department stating that they have withdrawn their objections to the project. In addition, CADW have written to TAP and said that they have no objections to the pipeline being installed along the perimeter of the Furnace site.
No further requests for information have been received from the Environment Agency and MCC Planning Department.
It is anticipated that a decision about whether or not the project can proceed will be made in the next few months.
Project Update - November
The only action for the team during October has been to clarify several aspects of the Project for MCC Planning Department. This is in line with our anticipation that a decision about whether or not the Project can proceed will be made in the next few months. No further survey work has been requested.
Project Update - December
Unfortunately there is no progress to report this month. MCC Planning Department are going through all of the documentation which has been submitted. No additional survey work has been requested, although it has been discovered that the Beaufort Pond dam is a Grade 2 listed structure requiring a formal application in order to get permission to install the inlet filters in the dam apertures. This has been submitted. Fortunately the scheme has been designed in a way that does not damage the dam.
It is still anticipated that a decision about whether or not the Project can proceed will be made in the next few months.
Norman Williams
Marketing & Publicity Director
Tintern Angiddy Project Ltd
E Mail: info@tapenergy.org