River water electricity plan
An innovative floating weir could be installed on the River Severn in Bridgnorth to generate electricity. Campaigners want to use the new technology to power lights to illuminate the Low Town bridge, but they admit the idea is in "very early days".
Councillor Brian Jones, chairman of the Low Town Action Group, said the idea had come from a restoration group which was planning to install weirs on other parts of the River Severn.
He said: "The floating weir is a new idea which we have got to investigate further. A group called the Severn Navigation Restoration Trust is looking at installing weirs at Bewdley and Worcester. If it is feasible then we want them to expand up here.
"We need a weir to generate electricity. The water flowing over the weir would generate electricity which could then be used to power lights to illuminate the bridge."
Councillor Jones said an application by the group for funding had recently been turned down, but he hoped to go back with a fresh bid for a weir. "It is very early days and we have got to go to the Environment Agency for its permission as well as talking to the restoration trust," he said.
Floating weirs are made of durable plastic filled with air, which makes them cheaper and less intrusive than traditional concrete weirs.
The Severn Navigation Restoration Trust are looking to build one in Shrewsbury to replace the current weir at Castlefields.
Trust bosses have identified 15 sites - including Shrewsbury - on the Severn to build new weirs or modify existing ones.
The inflatable weir would be built upstream from the existing one in Castlefields, which trust chiefs hope it will eventually replace.
Bridgnorth's proposal is not the only initiative planned for the river. Work is under way to create a heritage park on the riverside celebrating the Low Town foundry and a group has been set up to attract more visitors to Bridgnorth by revamping the river with a series of walks and other plans.
By Simon Alton
