Convener’s Chat – Spring 2009
I suppose the most exciting thing that has happened as far as I am concerned is what I think of as the ‘Electric Kelvin’. Let me explain – and do also read the article by Richard Bellingham on page 12 [of the Spring FORK newsletter - not yet available on the website].
I have wanted to put the river’s power to good use from the early days of the committee. We were recently lucky enough to find a new FORK who was actually qualified in environmental science.. However, he thought the river could not produce power because it did not have steep enough fall.
I happened to hear that the Scottish Parliament was offering grants to look into the idea of producing power for use in communities. Right up our street, I though and I spoke to two researchers from Strathclyde University. They came and listened to what I had to say and thought we were on to a good thing and agreed to put in a grant application to Keep Scotland Beautiful, who were dealing with this.
Richard Bellingham and Craig Menzies from Strathclyde University, who are both members of FORK now, presented our case to your Committee. Rarely have I seen your Committee so enthused!
I have been told that we will not know whether we have been successful in our application for a grant for a little while. If and when we find we have been successful, we will have to discover if we can indeed find sufficient power in the fall of water to drive the generator. It just seems to me that a river which used ot power quite a few mills of different sorts should be able to become the Electric river. There is one caveat. Assuming we get the go-ahead, we have promised not to upset the river or the fish within it.
FORK Gala Saturday 13 June 2009
This year the Gala will be similar to previous years, I hope. Would you please let me know if you know of anyone who might like to take a stall. The cost is £35.00 per stall for charities and £45.00 for commercial concerns. Please put this date in yor diary and make a point of coming!