Don Gorge Community Group: Important Announcement

FISH PASS & SMALL HYDRO SCHEME AT LOWER SPROTBOROUGH

CHANGES PROPOSED TO THE ORIGINAL SCHEME, WHICH WAS PLANNED TO BE ON THE LEVITT HAGG SIDE OF THE RIVER

This is the proposed new site on the island for the fish pass and small hydro scheme, along with the housing required for the electrical control unit.  This area is quite narrow and is currently used as a picnic area. 

We have been made aware that the Canal and River Trust (ex British Waterways) and the Small Hydro Company, which are in partnership, have agreed that siting this scheme on the south side of Sprotborough Falls is not now viable and so they intend to build it on the  north side, ie on the island. 

This has come as a complete shock to those of us who have been involved in the planning so far and we wish as many people who might have a view to consider the implications of this and contact us.  We had always had concerns regarding the siting of the housing required for the electrical control unit, etc, but were waiting for the planning application before considering objections.  However, although plans have still not been published, there seem to be many disadvantages to this proposal as follows:

·      This is considered to be an area of outstanding natural beauty and the island is a Site of Special Interest (SSI).   We believe that anything which might undermine the fragility of the island should only be undertaken after stringent assessment and consideration of all the possibilities.

·      Lower Sprotborough has been one of  Doncaster’s most attractive beauty spots for hundreds of years, one could even say the jewel in Doncaster’s crown, and as such should not be marred by large building/s which are out of character with the area..

·      Potential environmental damage to trees and habitat.

·      Access of all plant and machinery would be via Sprotbrough village, down Boat Lane and over the canal bridge for a period of approximately six months.  This would involve plant crossing the high pressure gas main supply to the village.

·      Disruption of traffic flows over the river during construction and also during cable-laying activity following construction, with the likely use of traffic lights for weeks or months at a time.

·      Potential weakening of the canal bridge.  This is protected at present due to the weight restrictions already in place on the river bridge.

·      The wall at each side of the gateway access onto the island would be in jeopardy due to the present width of the gateway and the anticipated size of plant and machinery.

·      Water flow rates are greater on the island side.  Would this defeat the object of enabling fish to ‘climb’ the ladder?

·      Weakening of the canal embankment due to heavy plant driving on and off and destruction of the surrounding area during construction. 

·      The possibility of increased flooding.   The island has been so landscaped that, when in full spate, the water will flow from the canal to the river over the island.   If it should flood during construction, there could be a danger that parts of the island would be eroded and washed away, particularly as the proposed site is on a narrow section of the island.  Could such damage actually split the island in two making access to the end of the island impossible?

·      Because of the fragility of the island, it seems possible that this erosion could be increased, not only during construction, but in the longer term as soil disturbance might have unforeseen consequences in future. 

·      If there is any change to the way in which rising waters are allowed to flow over the island - or, indeed, if debris in the filter beds causes backing up of flood waters, it is possible that The Boat Inn and the cottages at Lower Sprotborough could be more endangered than is the case at present.  As we know, the 2007 inundation resulted in flooding of them by more than a metre of water. 

·      One would expect that a geological survey has been carried out by the Small Hydro Company to ascertain the possibility of this risk.  If so, the results should be published.  If not, why not?

·      The installation of two buildings, one approx 12' square and 8' high - and even higher if it has to be raised up to take account of flooding.  Even with environmentally-friendly cladding, the size and height of these would destroy the natural beauty of the area.

·      Access to any viewing area (which was part of the original scheme) would only be available from the gate between the two bridges, which would be dangerous for pedestrians as there is no footpath on western side of the road.

·      The possible loss of use of the island for picnickers and anglers during construction and into the future.

·       Potential for loss of moorings for narrow boat users during construction and into the future.

·       Negative visual impact of debris being held back on filter grids required to protect plant.

·       Impact on environment and local residents from construction noise and activity.

·       Noise from generator equipment, etc, has been an issue on some sites where hydro-electric has been installed.  This will need to be taken into consideration because of its proximity to residents and the possible impact on visitors to the area who currently come because of the peace and tranquility the area offers.

·      The desecration of this beautiful area would be a tragedy and any organisation or profit-making company which claims to improve the environment by destroying it should be prevented from doing so.  

 Please contact lizreeve@dongorgecommunitygroup if you would like to make any comments regarding this.



Sprotborough Weir is just over the fence



Buyer Beware

It’s always exciting when, after searching for ages, you find just the thing you’ve been looking for.  When we moved into our renovated cottage nine years ago, we used a lot of the Ikea furniture we had brought with us from our old house, bookshelves in particular.  Some of these we used in the kitchen, fronting them with sliding doors so that we could store pots and food, and the rest went upstairs in the bedroom.  It may seem strange to display china and such like in a bedroom, but when that’s the only space you have to learn to be flexible.

To supplement our storage needs, we returned to Ikea and bought a unit which we hid behind a curtain, to use as a wardrobe and shoe store, and a chest of drawers for me.  In due course, we found a nice chest of drawers made of English walnut for Mick and I continued to hanker for one of my own.

A couple of weeks ago, an acquaintance died and, to support Mick’s brother, we went to Gainsborough for the funeral.  It was some time since we had been in that area, but we were reminded that Hemswell Antique Centre wasn’t far away and decided to pay a visit.

It’s a massive place, with lots of buildings full of brown furniture, which everyone seems to hate these days, but I love.  We had lunch and wandered around.  As usual, I had my eyes peeled for a suitable chest of drawers.  There were several on display, but there was always something not quite right, not quite high enough, not enough drawers, wrong sort of wood, condition not quite good enough.   You know how it is, that little ‘je ne sais quoi’ was missing.  Until….. there it was, standing by the wall, the chest of drawers I had imagined standing in the alcove in my bedroom for so long.  Right height, lovely sliding drawers, nicely polished, spot on.  The price was a bit high, but the owner agreed to knock £45 off and the deal was almost done.  But how to get it home?  We didn’t think it would fit in our car, so delivery had to be considered.  As deliveries are normally done through the Centre, we decided to ask at the entrance desk before committing ourselves totally. 

We were staggered to learn that the cost of delivery would normally be £120, but they had a van going in our direction that night and would reduce it to £70, but even this seemed outrageous.  We returned to inform the salesman that we were unable to finalise the sale as we weren’t prepared to pay such a high delivery charge, at which he offered to deliver it himself the next day at 11 am if we agreed to pay the full price.  We agreed.

By 11 o’ clock the next morning, we had cleared the route through the cottage to the alcove in the bedroom and were full of anticipation about our new acquisition, so when he arrived on the dot of eleven, we were impressed.  After removing the drawers, Mick helped him in with it and they proceeded to the stairs. 

Now, as in many old cottages, there are a variety of nooks and crannies which one wouldn’t find in a modern house: for instance on the outside wall, there are two windows, one above the other, which look out into the back yard and,  above the highest one, is a sloping bit where the roof begins.  On the side of the stairs, there is a bulge in the wall and, above that,  another ledge parallel to the stairs which sticks out.  I’m not sure of the reason for all this, but there you go, some things just are.  On top of these niceties, our stairs have a bend in them after the second step and, like all good, old furniture, the drawers were heavy.

Well, to cut a long story short, it wouldn’t go.  There was no two ways about it, it was just too deep.  

Back it came into the living room where a discussion ensued and it was decided that, if the top, which overlapped the drawers by a good inch all round, would come off, that might do the trick.  Twelve 2” screws later, it had to be turned upside down to enable the base to be pulled from the top.  After returning it to the upright position, they set off again.   “Left-hand down a bit”, “Rest it on the step for a minute”, “Tilt to the right a bit”, “Can you take the pictures off the wall and remove the plants from the window sill?”, could all be heard, tried and accomplished , but it still wouldn’t go round the corner.   The problem now was that the base stuck out a fraction and was stopping it going round the bend.  Perhaps if that could go into the window opening first, then they might stand a chance.    

By this time, I had decided to spend my time more profitably and was writing a reply to a letter I had just received from an old friend, describing the situation as it unfolded and hoping against hope that the drawers wouldn’t have to go back to Hemswell.  No doubt the seller was also praying for the same outcome.

 So, as I wrote, the drawers were returned to the living room to be turned upside down once more before setting off for the stairs for the third time.  I could hear the pushing, shoving and scraping going on, but decided to stay out of it.  A cost and benefit debate was going on in my head and I decided that so long as the wall didn’t fell down, any damage could be repaired later.  At last, with grunts and sighs of relief, it turned the corner and I heard two tired and weary men stagger up the rest of the stairs and into the bedroom. 

The top still had to be replaced and the twelve long screws driven into place, but that was a minor difficulty in the overall scale of the morning’s activities and I breathed a sigh of relief that the mission had been accomplished.  “Have you taken note of what you need to do if you need to take it out again?” The man’s voice came from above.  “You must be joking”, I returned.  “It’ll never come out again.  Now it’s in, it’s here for ever.”

Just the stair wall to paint and that plaster chip on the window surround to repair now!

© Liz Reeve

13.12.11