River power plan for lido

PLANS have emerged for a hydroelectric renewable energy scheme which would provide power for the Lido in Pontypridd.

- ANTHONY LEWIS Local Democracy Reporter

There is a planning application and a listed building consent application at Treforest Weir in the River Taff between the A4054 (Cardiff Road) and the B4595 (Forest Road), just south of the Broadway and Glyntaff Interchange in Treforest.

The proposed development would use water from the River Taff to provide a substantial proportion of the electricity demands of the National Lido of Wales in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park in Pontypridd.

Details submitted with the application indicate that the proposed hydroelectric scheme would have a total installed capacity of 215-300kW (kiloWatts).

The proposed _ hydroelectric scheme would mainly make use of the existing weir and peripheral structures at the site but a new hydraulic channel would be built adjacent to the weir, on the western bank of the river.

This would replace an existing fish pass and intake sluice. The existing weir and fish pass is designated as a listed building so listed building consent is also being applied for.