TAP June-December 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The Environment Agency has written to MCC Planning Department stating that they have withdrawn their objections to the project.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.
Please help
Letters in support of the Project could be helpful to the success of the Planning Application. The Planning Application can be viewed by clicking here. and then entering 1452 in the Application Number field in the window that next opens, then clicking the "Search" button.. Finally, under the heading "Case File", click on the box marked "Comment on application" to enter your comments.
Alternatively, you may write to Monmouthshire County Council, Planning Department at County Hall, Cwmbran NP44 2XH. Quoting the reference number 2007 / 01452
Norman Williams
Marketing & Publicity Director
Tintern Angiddy Project Ltd
E Mail: info@tapenergy.org