Goring&Streatley Sustainability Grp - Recently Updated Pages

Current Status of Goring and Streatley Hydro-Power Scheme

daveholt — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:03:47 CST

Interested? Register your interest in investing in the scheme.

On average five million tons of water flows through the Goring Gap every day. This is an enormous amount of energy that has been totally untapped since the closing of the two mills. Now, however, there is a project to harness a good proportion of this energy and convert it into electricity to benefit the local communities. The Goring & Streatley Sustainability Group (GSSG) has been working on this scheme for over four years with support from the two Parish Councils, the Goring Amenity Association, South Oxon District Council, the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs Sustainable Development Funds, the Goring Volunteer Fire Brigade Trust and the Environment Agency (EA). New MP John Howell and European MP James Elles have both sent strong letters of support following their site visits in 2008, adding to that received from Boris Johnston, when he was our MP.

The Scheme
Following the completion of the Feasibility Study (July 2006) and outline Design Study (March 2008), the plan is to replace the overfall weirs next to the lock-keeper’s house with three 3.6m Archimedes Spirals generating a combined 250Kw, which is equivalent to the average daily consumption of 500 homes. The electricity produced will be connected to the national grid at Streatley via an underground cable. Following meetings and agreement with the Nike Group - owners of the Swan Hotel -the hotel will draw as much electricity as it needs. In the early hours when the hotel demand is low, the electricity will go toward powering fridges, freezers and street lights locally through the grid. By generating electricity nearby there is no loss in power lines resulting in total CO2 emission savings of over 800 tonnes per year.

What about increased flood risk?
The EA have responsibility for the health and control of the river and all facilities on it. Their main concern is flood risk and the safety of flora and fauna on and in the river. On behalf of GSSG they have funded and completed a preliminary flood risk assessment with the three spirals in situ, indicating a very slight increase in flood levels only when the river is in full spate. Further flood risk modelling has begun and is expected to show that the existing meadows and flood plains can absorb this small increase. Interestingly, in normal conditions the spirals allow more water through (20 tons per second) than the existing weir, thereby improving the flow upstream.

What about the environment?
Specialist consultants commissioned by GSSG have completed the environmental survey to ascertain the type and extent of flora and fauna in the river and no legally protected exotic species have been found. Note that no flood risk analysis or environmental survey was performed before the major refurbishment of the weirs and sluices 20 years ago.

What about noise?
Archimedes Spirals rotate at just 1 revolution every two seconds creating a relaxing splashing sound that will be lower in volume than the current overfall weirs. The electrical equipment will be housed in a sound proofed sealed building near the lock-keeper’s house eliminating the whine of rotating machinery.

The technology
Archimedes Spirals (or screws) originated in the Near/Middle East and have been used for millennia to lift fluids uphill. Just a few years ago German engineers ascertained that by reversing the flow, energy could be produced efficiently by the weight of water rotating the spirals. They are endorsed by the EA because fish and eels simply swim through them without harm. They are within 4% as efficient as the latest Kaplan technology and maintain their performance over a wider range of flows, which is an important consideration for a 'run of river' scheme such as at Goring. They represent ‘intermediate technology’, as they are low cost and simple to construct thereby minimising CO2 output during manufacture. The top and bottom bearings will need to be replaced every 11 years and this can be accomplished in situ as both are above the river level during normal flow conditions.

The benefits
The immediate benefit is significant clean, sustainable electricity production with no CO2 emissions for at least 50 years. The scheme will also generate income of around £120,000 per year at today’s prices. The project will be set up as a not-for-profit community owned entity, so apart from any dividends which have to be paid to the local share owners, all profits will be returned to the community for further sustainable development projects with the aim of making Goring & Streatley self-sufficient in non-polluting electricity. These include environmental, economic and social projects with a particular emphasis on creating ‘public goods’ from agricultural and open spaces and enhancing the diversity of rural business in this community.

In addition, GSSG believe there will be greater tourism as this will be the first scheme on the river that is very visible to the public and river users. More people visiting G&S should benefit local businesses, improving their viability. GSSG also expect coaches and trainloads of school children travelling from all over the South to see this example of sustainable engineering. Visual displays will be installed explaining the scheme and showing in real-time how much electricity is being produced.

How YOU can get involved
Thus far GSSG has raised money to fund the multiple studies through grants from the organisations cited above. For the actual manufacture and construction phase upwards of £1 million will be required. GSSG is investigating UK and EU funding sources for this capital project but it is expected that there will be a shortfall. The preferred funding option is a local share issue enabling every parishioner of G&S to buy a stake in the project to a maximum of £20,000. A cursory glance at the income shows that the rate of return will be very competitive and through the Enterprise Investment Scheme no tax will have to be paid on the income for the life of the project.

If you think you might wish to invest please register your interest and likely investment amount. We don’t need names at this stage just ‘tick the box’ and enter the amount.

If you would like to join GSSG and get more involved with this and other projects please contact us.

Hydro-electric Generation

daveholt — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:58:30 CST

GSSG is examining the feasibility of installing hydro-electric generation on the weir adjacent to the Goring Lock. This is what it might look like.

The Environment Study was completed in June 2009 and the report is with the Environment Agency (EA). With the EA we have defined the specification for the Flood Risk Assessment and we have received three quotes from specialist consultancies from which one has been selected by GSSG and the computer modelling began in November. We are now contacting design and construction firms to work with to produce design drawings, construction methodology and obtain all permissions from the EA.

We are also looking at all potential funding sources including a local share issue. Please register your interest in investing on our Registration page.

More about the current status of the project can by following the link. Also read the background story in the Oxford Mail (26 Apr 07), the Reading Evening Post (9 Jan 08), Henley Standard (8 Sep 08) and the Goring Gap News (Sept 08, Oct 08 and Dec09).

The preferred technology is the Archimedes Spiral as they allow fish and eels to pass through without harm, are low maintenance, relatively easy to install, visually entrancing and audibly relaxing. (see thread below). One has been installed on the River Dart, which is the UK's third operational Archimedes Spiral in operation. A picture of the Archimedes Screw that is used in the River Dart Country Park Hydro-electric Plant is shown below.

The Screws on our weir would be less than half this length because the weir head is less, but the diameter of ours will be 3.6 metres to generate the power we want. We won't have a housing at the top as we'll use an hydraulic power takeoff linking all three with a generator in a small building near the lock-keeper's house.

Click to see a video of the Spiral in operation

At least three more of these turbines will become operational in the UK over the course of 2009.

Further technical information about the operation of these type of schemes has been produced by the British Hydropower Association.

Home of Sustainable Community Group Action

daveholt — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:53:54 CST

Welcome to the Goring and Streatley Sustainability Group

Goring wins South of England Village of the Year, 2009
and
Oxfordshire Village of the Year, 2009

and our sustainability initiatives clinched the wins

From a shortlist of 12, Goring was announced as the winner of Oxfordshire Village of the Year live on BBC Local Radio on 10th July. Villages were judged in four categories, with Goring winning the £500 Sustainability prize and another £500 for overall winner. Judges were impressed with activities around thermal imaging of homes, providing allotments, eliminating plastic bags, car sharing and the hydro-electric power scheme. Goring was then entered into the South of England competition.

In late September it was announced that Goring had won South of England Village of the Year, once again winning the Sustainability Award.

The hydro-power scheme is about to enter a new and exciting phase with the completion of the feasibility studies. GSSG is examining the possible sources of funding for the construction phase, which is likely to cost about £1 million.

Register an interest in possible investment in the hydro-power scheme.

Our current projects are:

We are also considering other Potential Projects. What are your ideas?

Our past projects are:

See our Diary of Events for opportunities to find out more about GSSG.

Visit the pages and contribute to the debate.

New User? See our tips for getting the best out of the site.

Allotments for Goring and Streatley

riechase — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:17:16 CDT

Initial meeting
Following significant response to an advert placed by Tom Worthington of GSSG in the Goring Gap News regarding establishing allotments within Goring, the first meeting of those interested happened in the Belleme Room on 25th June 2008. Over 30 people were there, including half a dozen from Streatley. The meeting was Chaired by Tom with assistance from Bernard Clucas who has worked an allotment in various places for 35 years and Dave Holt, chairman of the Environment and Community committee of Goring Parish Council (GPC).

A working party was voted in to define the structure of the group and begin liaison with the GPC. The working party consists of: Nigel Dodd, chairman; Bernard Clucas; Anne-Marie Chase and Den Russell. Contact details were recorded of all participants for notification of future meetings etc.. In October 2008 the working party organised visits to other local allotments to discover how they were used and operated.

Further Events
An event in the Rectory Gardens was organised on 28th June 2008 for those interested in having access to an allotment plot or part thereof. At the event a full plot was physically marked out to enable people to decide what proportion of a plot they wished to work.

A "petition" has been signed by Goring parishioners, interested in having an allotment, and presented to the Goring Parish Council. The Streately residents have provided a similar petition to The Streatley Parish Council.

At a meeting of Goring Parish Council, in March 2009, the chairman proposed the following: that “Having received a petition signed by or on behalf of 31 electors, this council accepts that there may be a case for providing allotments for residents of Goring and appoints a task group under the chairmanship of Cllr Ann Hart to examine the options for appropriating the council’s own land for use as allotments”.

Action Needed
Those interested in obataining an allotment are encouraged to attend Parish Council Meetings to maintain support for the allotments. Dates of further meetings are available at http://www.goringpc.org/meetings/index.php?category=1

Contact Us

NigelW — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:53:07 CDT

Address:
Downlands, Rectory Road, Streatley, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 9LE, UK

E-mail: info@gssg.org.uk

Netty phone:
Skype: goring.streatley.sustainability in Goring
VoIP: 1818133@sipgate.co.uk

POTS:
Tel: +44 (0) 870 288 5151
Tel: +44 (0) 1491 81 81 33
Fax: +44 (0) 870 288 5191

Committee Members :
Kay Baker
Martin Baker
Trevor Coombs (Chairman)
Dave Holt
Bill Jackson (Treasurer)
Jonny Riggall
Nikki Swan
Nigel Wheatley (Secretary)

All members are invited to attend committee meetings.

Do you want to join?? Fill in the membership application form by downloading it from the attached brochure at the bottom of this page. Then fill it in and drop it into Swift Ink or email the details to us.

Committee Meetings

NigelW — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:39:23 CDT

The next meeting is on 1st June 2009. All members are welcome to attend. Please contact us for details.
The agenda for the next meeting is attached below.

The minutes of the last three committee meetings are attached below:

30th March 2009
23rd February 2009
14th January 2009.

Diary of Events

NigelW — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:24:39 CDT

2009

Meetings to be arranged.

Past Events

2009
February/March

Thermal imaging of houses in Goring and Streatley.

2008
June 25

A meeting on the way forward to set up allotments in Goring was held on Wed 25th at the Belleme Room at 8pm. All those who had an interest in taking an allotment, whether soon or maybe in the future, were invited to attend.

July 26

See Annual Food Fest for details.

May 27

Film evening and discussion (see details).

April 22

Car Sharing presentation and discussion led by Nigel Wheatley.
This was an opportunity to discover how car sharing could save you money, help to reduce traffic congestion and reduce pollution. Car Sharing - could it work in Goring & Streatley? (see attachment below).

2007
December 28

The Group’s Christmas Reception was held at The Old Golf House, Rectory Road, Streatley. It was an informal gathering of friends of GSSG but we also an opportunity to bring members up to date on the hydro-electric project at Goring weir; and on research into the acceptability of a car club in Goring and Streatley and many activities which will happen in the New Year. We particularly welcomed the ideas on sustainable practices that we could pass on to a wider audience. Orange juice, hot punch and nibbles was served from noon. (see invitation)

November 28

Talk on the 'Renewable Energy from Crops' by Dr. Rebecca Heaton of BP. This was a controversial subject and the talk provided an opportunity to hear both sides of the argument.

Thermal Imaging

NigelW — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:17:31 CDT

GSSG conducted a thermal imaging project of heat loss from homes within Goring and Streatley during the 2008/09 winter.

SODC lent a thermal imaging camera to the GSSG and also provided training.

Goring Village Food Fest

NigelW — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:16:21 CDT

The Food Fest for 2009 has been cancelled.

Following the success of the Food Fest in June 2007 there was another Food Fest on 14th June 2008 in the Goring Rectory Gardens in the centre of the village starting at 10am. The music started at Noon and continued well into the evening.

The main sponsor of the event was The Miller of Mansfield to whom we are extremely grateful.
Other business sponsors provided funds and raffle prizes and are too many to mention.

At the 2008 event visitors were able to enjoy:

Hog on a spit
Free range turkeys
Fresh baked bread
Restaurants
Raffles
Shop displays
Buy Local Buy organic / free range
Support local shops and business
See what was on offer in their own village

Exhibitors included:

Goring Gap Hydro project
GSSG hog roast
GSSG projects
Inspirations
Jan Marie’s
Miller of Mansfield
Napper’s
Bower Farm Turkeys
Rush Court Winery, Wallingford
Jack's or Westholme Stores
The Wineman
The Swan Hotel and Venus Spa
The Goring Business Network
Cleeve WI
The Goring and Woodcote Surgery
The Flower Shop
True Food
WRAP composting

Visitors were also entertained by Goring Unplugged.

Register Investment

NigelW — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:52:05 CDT

The preferred funding option for the hydro-power scheme is a local share issue enabling every parishioner of G&S to buy a stake in the project to a maximum of £25,000.

If you think you might wish to invest please register your interest and likely investment amount below. We don’t need names at this stage just ‘tick the box’ and register your vote (by clicking the cast your vote button).

Registering an interest is anonymous, but registration is limited to one per person.

After you have registered your interest you can change your registration by clicking the change vote link. Please ignore the comment button. If you have any comments please use the thread (i.e. message facility) at the bottom of this page, or contact us via email or telephone.

Please do not be confused by use of the word vote. We are using the Vizu tool as a convenient way of recording the level of interest in a share issue. Unfortunately, the tool uses the word vote, which cannot be changed. For vote please read register.

From the results captured by the Vizu tool we hope to determine the total amount of shares that might be sold.

Screws on the weir

NigelW — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:16:34 CDT

Interested? Register your interest in investing in the scheme.

Three 3.5m diameter Archimedes Spirals producing up to 245KW of electricity.

Potential Projects

NicolaSwan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:33:37 CDT

Energy Efficiency Survey - GSSG could get involved in energy efficiency surveys of properties using a thermal imaging camera. Would you be interested? Do you have experience of such surveys? Do you know about thermal imaging? Would it be beneficial? Can you help?

Other Ideas? - Post a comment?

Other Activities

NicolaSwan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:31:23 CDT

See our Diary of Events for future activities

See our list of Potential Projects. Any Ideas? We would love to hear from you.

Other local groups with which we could exchange ideas or co-operate are as follows:

Sustainable Wallingford - a group of local residents who are committed to making their English town more environmentally sustainable and reducing its ecological impact
Goring Gap Business Network - supports businesses in Goring-on-Thames, Streatley-on-Thames and the surrounding area

Food Fest Pictures 2007

daveholt — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:01:26 CDT

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Food Fest Photos 2008

daveholt — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:00:04 CDT


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Reading Car Club

NigelW — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:51:38 CDT

There is a car club in Reading, with the first car based near Cementery Junction, with further cars to be provided elsewhere in the town during 2008, all operated by Commonwheels CIC.

If you are interested in joining the Reading car club contact Commonwheels. Alternatively, if you are interested in car clubs elsewhere please complete the short Carplus survey.

Commonwheels also intends to establish car clubs in High Wycombe, Portsmouth, Poole, Swindon, Preston and Bournemouth during the course of 2008.

Film Evening and Discussion

NigelW — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:01:12 CDT

The three films shown on 25th June 2008 can be accessed from the following web sites which are listed in reverse order of showing. We would encourage you to send the address (URL) of the Story of Stuff to everyone you know, to spread the message that unbridled consumption, waste and pollution on a small world will cause enormous problems for our children and grandchildren.

The Story of Stuff shows how the US and then the World became obssessed with consumption and materialism following the end of WW2 and that infinite consumption and waste cannot be sustained in a finite world. http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Decentralised energy discusses the benefits of Combined Heat & Power (CHP) plants located near communities to reduce electricity transmission losses (which can be up to 70%) and utilise the waste heat directly for heating homes and offices. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/decentralised-energy-w

This Greenpeace film is anti-nuclear power, showing that even the new building programme will not make good the projected shortfalls with (once again) two-thirds of the electrcity being wasted in the wires. Interestingly, the next night a Channel 4 news item declared that the bill for cleaning up the old reactors that are now going off-line has risen from 73 billion to "inestimable". The film also pushes the benefits of CHP. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/the-convenient-solution-20070718

Another Page

NigelW — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:50:02 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Practice Area

NigelW — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:34:43 CDT

This page is to enable new users to our site to practice editing and adding pages without the worry of messing up live pages. However, that is misplaced worry as Wetpaint makes it easy to undo any changes.

New text.

Home Insulation Grants

NigelW — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:38:15 CDT

Grants are available for roof & cavity wall insulation. Free to those over 70 years of age, or those on certain benefits, up to 75% grants to others. Extra charges may apply to large lofts. Ring 0800 5200 527 or visit www.freeinsulation.co.uk for further information. Alternatively contact your utility company.

There are a number of grant schemes in operation that offer discounted or free insulation to homeowners and private tenants. For impartial, expert advice on the best available deal from a database of options contact Cocoon on 0800 80 48 777. Insulation grants are part of the Government Emmissions reduction Target.(CERT). The major utility companies have to reduce carbon emissions by paying to insulate domestic properties.

Full price cavity & loft insulation may cost around £1000 and savings could be up to 50%.