From Kevin Scullin

Tuesday, 5 January 2016

Due to change in family circumstances I am no longer a frequent visitor to Yorkshire in general, or Hebden Bridge in particular; nevertheless, though resident in suburban London I still like to keep up with what's happening thereabouts (born in Leeds, I attended school in Mirfield, &c.).

So, it was very interesting to hear of this hydro scheme in the area (I've never heard of such a localised effort), and one doesn't need to be an industrial historian to know that water-power was indeed essential to the development of mills and the textile industry of the area.

I hope that the recent tremendous flooding in the area has in no way affected the operation of the scheme: indeed, it shows the extreme power of natural resources, which surely the human wit can harness in a beneficial way (cf. solar power).

These are just the reflections of a layman, with no expertise or party interest in energy issues. I wish the instigators well, and am glad that they were able to get the scheme operational before the what seems to me short-sighted change in governmental fiscal policy changed.