Three water mills planned along Faughan

The applications are for three separate Archimedes screw turbines at locations at the Salmon Leap, Claudy, the Ardmore Bleach Green, and at lands to the rear of the Drumahoe Post Office.

Ballyarton Energy Ltd. has submitted a planning statement in support of its application for a “proposed installation of an Archimedes screw hydro-electric turbine including fish pass” at “The Salmon Leap” at Lettermuck.

The statement explains the lower mill site is currently in use as a fish farm and that the proposal is to use the surplus space available at the upper mill site to install a modern water turbine with an emphasis on fish protection.

It suggests the completed turbine will generate approximately 365,000 kWh of renewable energy per annum, sufficient to power 81 Houses.

In order to prevent poaching of salmon and trout at the site the developers will erect security fencing and CCTV cameras.

Video evidence of any illegal activity will be available to the regulatory authorities and this will be communicated to the public via appropriately located signage on the site, the statement pledges.

Meanwhile, separate plans have also been lodged to restablish a redundant water mill downstream at the Ardmore Bleach Green site and to develop a turbine on land at the back of the Drumahoe post office.

The Ardmore proposal is for the reinstatement of “a hydroelectric, renewable energy system on the Faughan river using an existing weir, restored mill race and installation of a fish friendly archimedes screw turbine.”

The Drumahoe proposal is for the “redevelopment of hydro-electric scheme to include replacement weir and intake structure, mill race and penstock, new turbine house and water outfall structure.”