AN Avoncliff woman has upset her closest neighbours and divided the local community with plans to install a £800,00 hydropower turbine on the weir.

Susan-Ann Lee, 70, of Weavers Mill, Avoncliff, together with her partner, Tony Cunningham, 72, set up Avoncliff Hydropower Ltd in January to produce electricity for the National Grid.

The hydropower turbine would operate all-year round and have the capacity to generate 398MWh of electricity a year – enough to supply the average household consumption of 121 homes.

Ms Lee was this week in Aberdeen with Mr Cunningham and did not wish to comment. Her plans are to install a concrete and steel turbine housing structure, fish pass, fish by-wash, and an eel pass on the River Avon weir.

She also wants to remove an existing sluice gate, repair a second sluice gate, repair part of the crumbling weir walls, and build new stone walls to channel some of the water flow to the turbine.

Many Avoncliff residents say they are in favour of producing green energy and that the scheme will enhance the river and valley.

But Ms Lee’s next-door neighbour, Alex Timms, of River House, Avoncliff, has strongly objected, saying her plans are “totally out of scale” with the area and will be akin to having a power station next to his home.

“What was a quiet backwater will become a torrent of unbelievable power. Without considering what this means for wildlife, it will divert the main flow of water across the river and cause any swimmer or boat in the vicinity to be sucked towards the turbine – uncontrollably.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We have been consulted by Wiltshire Council on a planning application for a hydropower scheme at Weaver’s Mill, Avoncliff.

"The scheme already has an impoundment licence issued by us. This licence was granted after detailed consideration of competing schemes at Weaver’s Mill and North Mill on the River Avon."

Bradford on Avon Town Council says the proposals may have a “significant impact” on the River Avon and its environment in relation to water levels and the possibility of flooding.

Alex Kay, chair of the town’s planning and environment committee, said: “This is quite a large proposed structure and we would like to highlight some concerns and key issues. These include recreational river user safety and access, upstream river levels and the overall river environment.”

Steve Missen, of Bradford on Avon Rowing Club, said portage access across the weir for canoes and kayaks need to be maintained.