Hydro-electric scheme may bring historic water mill back into use
An historic mill could be brought back into use – 100 years after being seriously damaged by fire.
Mile End Mill in Llangollen was one of three mills built in 1830 for the textile industry, and planning permission is now being requested to use it as a base to establish a hydro-electric scheme.
The mill, along with Upper Dee Mill and Lower Dee Mill, operated until the 1940s with the last of the three, Lower Dee Mill, finally closing in 1960. The Mile End building was damaged in a fire in 1907 and again in 1920. In recent years it has been used as a base for waterports.
The planning application has been lodged with Denbighshire County Council by Fiona Dalton, who runs Whitewater Estates (Llangollen) Ltd with her husband Mike.
It is proposed to abstract water via a screen box sunk into the riverbed close to the weir, the purpose of the screen being to prevent fish and debris entering the system.
A spokesman for consultants Bailey and Partners said: "The turbine is already housed within Mile End Mill and will require removal and refurbishment as part of this proposal. There will therefore be no requirement for the construction of a standalone turbine house as existing resources can be utilised."
The turbine was originally fed by an open leat running through an area now used as a car park. The leat was filled in during World War II and the new proposal is to bury two new pipelines.
An application to abstract water has been made to Natural Resources Wales but water levels in the river are not expected to be affected as the water will be returned.
Some watersports enthusiasts have expressed concerns about the possible effect on river levels but have been reassured that the company would not carry out any scheme which might affect their activities.
