A NEW water power scheme to electrify part of Totnes and tie a centuries-old mill into the national grid is being investigated.

Last week a Yorkshire company announced it was looking at a £1million scheme to install a power-generating turbine at the Totnes Weir.

Now hydro power enthusiast Christopher Biggs is aiming to begin talks with the Town Mill Trust over a much smaller scheme to look at the possibility of using the old mill wheel to generate electricity.

The mill building houses the town's information centre and Image Bank and sports a working water wheel.

Mr Biggs said he wants permission to launch a feasibility study to see whether it would be possible to harness the water power of the old leat — just as it was harnessed centuries ago by the old mill.

But the 21st century approach would involve using the wheel to generate electricity which could be used to power the building itself — and even create an income for the trust owners if it was able to sell power to the national grid.

"It's early days yet but it seems like an opportunity which needs to be explored," he said.

He explained he had already looked at possible sites along the Dart at Staverton and added: "In the South West there are hundreds of old mill sites which are no longer used."

He pointed to the Lower Tweed Mill at Dartington where the old mill wheel is generating renewable energy and suggested that the Town Mill could do exactly the same.

He said a feasibility study would look at things like water flows past the old mill and added: "It might not be a runner but one would have thought it would be possible, even if was just a micro scheme to operate lights and computers in that building."

He pointed also to new rules coming into force later this year which would guarantee an income from similar schemes which were able to feed power into the national grid.

"It could turn into a revenue generator for the trust," he added.

Last week the Yorkshire-based company Mannpower announced it had bought the weir at Totnes and was involved in talks with King Edward VI Community College over the possibility of installing an Archimedean Screw turbine and generating enough electricity to power the college.