Plans to use a 200-year-old weir in Congleton to generate renewable energy have taken a massive step forward.

After nearly four years of detailed work Dane Valley Community Energy volunteers have announced the Congleton Hydro Community Share scheme is now open.

The scheme aims to raise £730,000 from the local community to construct a new hydro electricity generation project at Havannah Weir.

The hydro installation will consist of a 2.5m diameter, 8m long Archimedes screw driving a 75kW electrical generator, generating enough renewable, clean power for 60 homes.

Sally-Ann Holland, Congleton Town Mayor, said: "As the Town Mayor of Congleton I am delighted to see this long-awaited project starting to become a reality.

"Not only will it redirect renewable energy back into the community, but it will be an educational tool for future generations to see how we can harness what is already available to us and transform it into clean energy."

Congleton's new hydro-electric scheme is being built on the River Dane at a site with a long history of using waterpower for productive purposes.

The Havannah weir is a grade-2 listed structure and has been in use since the early 1800's.

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Largely abandoned since the 1960's the Congleton Hydro scheme will see the power of the Dane once again employed to serve the residents of the town.

As one of the first community-based generation schemes in the Cheshire East region, the project will provide an ideal vehicle for involvement by local companies and institutions which care about their environmental credentials.

Congleton Hydro scheme enables a real reduction in Congleton/Cheshire Easts' contribution to CO2 emissions. The project has a projected operating surplus of around £5,000 per year which will be used to fund local community projects and in partnership with local schools, will provide a suitable educational programme for local children.

David McGifford, Chief Officer of Congleton Town Council, said: "Congleton Town Council has fully supported this renewable energy project since its inception and is delighted to see it now coming to fruition, it gives the community its first opportunity to invest in a local energy project created by volunteers."

Anyone interested in the project is invited to request the Share Offer Document which sets out the opportunity to support the generation of renewable energy, help tackle energy security and support the local community financially.

The share offering is being organised by Sharenergy, which is the leading social enterprise in the UK for establishing community owned renewable energy schemes.

The Share Offer will close when fully subscribed or on 31st March 2020.

Dane Valley Community Energy are also holding a drop in session at the Makers Market on Saturday.

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Visit: http://www.congletonhydro.co.uk/contact-us/register_interest