Go-ahead for farm electricity project

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has approved the plans for the hydro-electric scheme to be installed at Manor Farm at Halton Gill in Littondale.

The venture is being overseen by Langcliffe Hall Estate, near Settle, and follows proposals which have been drawn up by other organisations, including plans for a hydro-electric plant on the River Bain, near Bainbridge.

The Littondale project is aiming to supply enough electricity for up to 25 homes and will provide another form of income for Dales farmers by allowing them to sell hydro-electric power to the National Grid.

The national park authority's member champion for climate change, William Weston, said: "This is a very brave application and I hope many others will take up this option."

While concerns were raised that the scheme would cause disruption to Halton Gill's already precarious water supply, the national park authority's planning committee agreed on Tuesday that the project should be approved.

The Environment Agency has also approved a licence on condition that the hydro-electric scheme will not operate when the level of water in Halton Gill beck is very low, or when heavy rainfall causes the spring feeding the village water supply to be blocked with debris.

The Sustainable Development Fund is due to provide a grant of about 40,000 for the 200,000 scheme.

The national park authority hopes that up to 50 hydro-electric schemes could be created across the Dales to provide a renewable source of energy which is preferable to wind turbines impinging on the landscape.